Church Coalition Working To Open Homeless Shelter
With winter putting in its dentures, a coalition of Spokane churches is preparing to open a homeless shelter.
The Interfaith Alliance Hospitality Network of Spokane will host up to five homeless families each week, offering meals, showers, counseling and help with job searches.
The coalition of 10 churches had hoped to be operating by Thanksgiving, but it still needs two more host churches and $12,500.
It hopes to care for families by January.
The money would go toward remodeling a day center and laundry facility at First Covenant Church downtown.
“We have organizations around town begging us to take families,” said Ingrid Aderhold, a spokesman for the coalition.
The coalition is part of a national group started in New Jersey. At least 11 states have similar networks, and St. Vincent DePaul organized a church-based homeless shelter in Couer d’Alene.
North Side host churches include Whitworth Presbyterian, Prince of Peace Lutheran, Audubon Terrace Reformed Latter Day Saints and Knox Presbyterian.
North Side churches offering financial support include Shadle Park Presbyterian, Messiah Lutheran and Northwood Presbyterian.
The network works like a round-robin dinner group, with host churches taking turns housing families in their buildings. Nine additional churches have signed up to give volunteer hours and money.
Each church would play host up to five times a year.
The network is designed to give comfortable living quarters while helping homeless families recover.
“These are the houses of God and we part of his family,” said Aderhold. “These families are our guests and we treat them such.”
Prince of Peace Lutheran pastor John Voswig spurred the network last year by hosting Karen Olson, the New Jersey homeless advocate who created the first Interfaith Alliance Network.
More than 2,700 homeless people in Spokane were turned away from over-booked emergency shelters last year. The Spokane Neighborhood Action Program homeless office turns away an average of 10 families every day.
To help, call Aderhold at 327-5612, or Sandy Nokes at 838-1083.
, DataTimes