Capital Interfaith Hospitality Network (CIHN) is a nondenominational coalition of NW Washington, DC, and suburban Maryland congregations and associations providing food and shelter to homeless families from our area. Ours is a cost-efficient, effective community response to family homelessness.

[more > if your congregation/association wants to join our network]
[more > to donate]
[more > if your family needs help]

OUR MISSION IS FOUR-FOLD. First, to respond to the immediate needs of homeless parents and children with nutritious meals, nurturing care and a safe, comfortable place to sleep. Second, to give the members of our Network an opportunity to serve those in need. Third, to establish a plan for each family to identify and remove any barriers to an independent and productive life. Fourth, to encourage other churches, synagogues and other religious as well as non-religious associations to join our Network.

Our mission has guided us for 12 years and we have been able to touch the lives of more than 110 homeless families, including 130 children. Many of them have been able to move into subsidized or even market-rate housing, have gotten jobs and identified child care and have acquired the tools they need to sustain a promising future.

Hundreds of volunteers have been a part of this effort since 1996, and their lives have changed as well. The real-life experience of helping homeless families alters our view of the world and gives us hope for a more humane society.

OUR PARENT ORGANIZATION
FamilyPromise.org, our parent organization, is committed to helping low-income families nationwide to achieve lasting independence. They help communities mobilize to provide safe shelter, meals, and support services for homeless families, and they sponsor programs designed to redress the underlying causes of homelessness.

In a typical interfaith hospitality network -- CIHN is only one of many nationwide -- half the guests are children, most of them younger than six years old.

[more > go to Family Promise site]