SIte Index for Capital Interfaith Hospitality Network -- Helping Homeless Families in NW Washington, DC


		The below maps out the content of the pages that make up this Web site. Pages are listed alphabetically, their content in order of appearance. DONATIONS • donations to CIHN are tax-deductible • where the money comes from and where it goes • making financial donations • making in-kind donations • donate time & expertise [go to Donations page] FUNDRAISERS & EVENTS • CIHN primarily relies on donations from member congregations and associations • CIHN occasionally holds a fundraiser or sponsors an event • 2006 is CIHN's 10th anniversary -- expect a celebratory event! • contact CIHN (see masthead) to get involved in the 10th anniversary event [go to Fundraisers & Events page] GETTING STARTED -- IF YOUR FAMILY NEEDS HELP • families come to CIHN through Capitol Hill Group Ministry (CHGM) • families come to CHGM through Virginia William's Family Crisis Center, so start there • contact info for the above • about CHGM [go to Where to Start page] HOME PAGE • CIHN is a non-profit coalition of religious and community organizations serving homeless families in Washington, DC, since 1996 • CIHN is a way station of support and companionship; for our volunteers, it is an opportunity to serve and achieve a better understanding of poverty and homelessness • DC homelessness is on the rise -- skyrocketing housing/rents are squeezing out those on the margin • one in every four DC homeless persons is a child • CIHN offers 365 nights a year of home-cooked meals, warm beds and supportive conversation • Network organizations offer their facilities to be used as overnight shelters • volunteers, generally from Network congregations and associations, prepare meals and provide conversation • CIHN supports a day center run by Capitol Hill Group Ministry (CHGM) that offers support services • CIHN opens its doors and our hearts to those in need, gives them the resources to take the next step toward independence and celebrate their move to more stable housing and the opportunity for a better life • mention of and links to Donations and to Fundraisers & Events [go to Home page] HOW CIHN HELPS HOMELESS FAMILIES • participating congregations and associations provide dinner and temporary overnight housing to families in need • volunteers provide meals, conversation, help with the kids, companionship • CIHN underwrites the cost of a day center in southeast DC that Capitol Hill Group Ministry operates and where clients can seek employment, receive mail, get job training and more • a chance at a new beginning [go to How We Help page] MISSION -- CIHN'S MISSION • to respond to the immediate nutritional and sleeping needs of homeless families • to give Network members the opportunity to serve people in need • to establish a plan for each family to identify and remove any barriers to an independent and productive life • to encourage churches, synagogues and other religious as well as non-religious associations to join our Network. • CIHN has positively impacted dozens of families • about our parent organization, FamilyPromise.org [go to Our Mission page] STATISTICS -- HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON, DC • more than 14,000 homeless men, women and children • myriad of situations, including skyrocketing housing costs, result in homelessness • CIHN works in partnership with Capital Hill Group Ministry • CIHN provides dinner plus a place to stay overnight • CIHN also underwrites the cost of a day center that offers employment and other services to help people get through their time of homelessness and get back on their feet [go to Statistics page] VOLUNTEERING • volunteers bring life and care to CIHN • every dinner – all 365 of them—is prepared and served by a Network volunteer • every night -- all 365 of them -- is supervised by overnight volunteer(s) • volunteering benefits the homeless families as well as the volunteers • volunteer families welcome on overnight stays • fundraising, grant application and administration volunteers also needed [go to Volunteering page] WHAT CIHN DOES [see How We Help, above] WHO WE ARE • CIHN relies on a small, dedicated staff as well as hundreds of volunteers • 12-member board made up of representatives from Network congregations and associations • list of our Network congregations and associations • about our Network Director • about CIHN's overnight staffers [go to Who We Are page]