Welcome Home

A day in the life…the kids learn to play different instruments with a volunteer from “Joy of Music" Program.

In the Hour of Need Family Shelter (formerly The Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Worcester)(IHN), works in partnership with the faith community, groups and individual volunteers to provide shelter and assistance to families with children who are experiencing homelessness. The program’s primary goals are to assist families in increasing their income and to help them secure permanent housing, while providing the critical support services necessary for them to succeed.

What We Do

We house up to six families with children at a time in a large home on the west side of Worcester. We provide each family with a private bedroom, personal necessities, case management, and employment support services. A network of religious congregations from many faith traditions, as well as groups and individual volunteers, support us in our work. Program staff manage the house and provide professional case management services, while congregations and volunteers donate both funding and coverage hours. Our congregations and volunteers cover evening and overnight shifts at the house. Through this unique mix of staff and volunteer contributions, we ensure that our families receive effective and professional care and case management, as well as love and support from the community.

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Housing Assistance

Our guests are housed in private bedrooms in our warm home in Worcester, and we work with them from the moment they arrive to help them find stable housing.

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JOB
TRAINING

Most of our adult guests are employed full or part-time, working in low-wage jobs. We do everything we can to promote and support job training and education that will secure a brighter future for their families.

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FOOD
Assistance

Although volunteers may provide gift cards and funding for food at the house, most often, families buy and prepare their own meals for themselves and their children.

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CASE
MANAGEMENT

Our Program Director and Case Manager work together to help our families navigate the many challenges of getting their lives back on track.

IHN supports up to 6 families, or up to 26 people, in the house at any given time.

Over the past 23 years, IHN is proud to have sheltered 420 families, with 75% securing housing, and 90% of those maintaining it for at least 2 years.

Contact Us

 

If you are looking for shelter, please contact our Program Director Sheri Linn directly via the phone number or e-mail address below. If you are interested in volunteering, learning more about how your congregation can become a part of our network, supporting IHN through your foundation or organization, please fill out the contact form below and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.