INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK OF GREATER FORT WAYNE (dba Just Neighbors Interfaith Homeless Network)
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Mission Statement
Just Neighbors is the ONLY local emergency shelter serving families with children. A defining characteristic of our program is that we have the capacity to keep families together. In fact, this was the reason, Just Neighbors was created. No other homeless shelter has the capacity to serve whole families in one location. We also participate in community-wide efforts to address systemic issues that contribute to homelessness. These collaborations provide a more seamless transition for families moving toward self-sufficiency; diminish the duplication of services; and increase community system-wide efficiency and effectiveness of services. Just Neighbors is also unique because of the vital role volunteers play in providing support and mentoring for the families we serve. Over 30 congregations work with us by providing over 700 volunteers to support our families each year.
About This Cause
Homelessness is a significant and chronic community issue on its own. Homelessness is also a significant health problem that is not limited to any race, religion, age, or ethnicity – it can impact anyone of any background. According to various national surveys and academic studies, homelessness negatively impacts physical and emotional health. Homelessness increases risk for acute health problems including exposure, injury, infection, malnutrition, diabetes, cardiopulmonary disease and other concerns. Adult homeless people have health problems at rates three to six times greater than housed people. Children without housing experience numerous health problems and developmental delays. Children without safe, stable homes are in poor health twice as often as other children, having higher rates of asthma, ear infections, stomach problems, and other health difficulties. They are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health conditions. Just Neighbors addresses these issues by providing emergency shelter for homeless families at our family center. We provide food, shelter and clothing to meet families’ immediate needs to protect their physical health. Once immediate physical needs are met, families are better able to address emotional and longer-term economic needs. We provide comprehensive case management, education and support groups, tutoring and mentoring to help families recover from the emotional toll the crisis of homelessness can create. We help them build the skills and resources they need to return to self-sufficiency. For more specific and in-depth issues, we provide referrals to appropriate sources for physical and emotional health needs. We help families arrange childcare and assist children to remain in or return to school. We work closely with a variety of government programs, not-for-profit agencies, and other community organizations to connect our guests with a wide range of services for maintaining employment and transitional or permanent housing. Together all of these services provide comprehensive support to help families begin to build long-term well-being – physically, economically, and emotionally. Just Neighbors can make a meaningful impact in a family’s ability to access services in the community and to improve their housing and income. We track data on these outcomes: * 100% of families served will complete needs assessment * 100% of families served will receive referrals to community support services * 70% families served will successfully find safe permanent or transitional housing * 70% family members seeking employment will secure jobs or other stable income * 100% of minor children will remain in school during emergency shelter for homelessness * 85% of family strategic goal plans will address specific issues related to children Our case managers work with each individual family to continually measure their progress in meeting their family-specific goals based on their original assessment, family plan, and timetable. Throughout a family’s stay at IHN, case managers monitor progress and gather data on key objectives to ensure that families are receiving the assistance they need and that our program is effective for them.