To provide homeless families emergency shelter and hospitality through interfaith communities and to work with families to find and retain stable housing, with the goal of helping families secure safe, affordable, permanent housing. In 2022, Found House IHN:
Emergency shelter is provided through partnership between faith communities, which host four families for a week at a time in their houses of worship. These communities also provided meals and hospitality to guests in their building. Found House IHN provides transportation, daytime space and amenities, as well as comprehensive case management in support of a permanent housing plan. Together, this forms a community approach, providing not only shelter, but also recognition, acceptance and support to families struggling with a lack of affordable housing.
Wise Temple served as a founding partner congregation with Found House IHN in 1991, and has maintained its role supporting families facing housing insecurity by hosting families every year since. Wise Temple classrooms are transformed into cozy bedrooms, and the Program Room into a welcoming living room space, with volunteers welcoming, feeding, and creating community with Found House IHN guests who sleep at Wise Center for a week at a time. Without congregations like Wise Temple, it would be difficult for some families to stay together as they look for permanent housing and financial stability.
Wise Temple volunteers work together to provide food, fun, and a warm, comfortable, home-like environment for families during their stay in our building. This is a perfect opportunity for families and friends to spend meaningful time together helping others in our community. Scroll down to the “Volunteer Roles” section to learn more about how our volunteers support Found House IHN guests.
Questions? Contact Brooke Carlisi at bcarlisi@wisetemple.org
For over three decades, Wise Temple has hosted families experiencing temporary homelessness through Found House IHN. Yet, if you’ve never seen the program in action, it may be hard to understand this powerful mitzvah. These videos will help you understand how you can make a difference, will dispel any misconceptions, and will inspire you to participate.
Learn about the Found House IHN mission from Found House Shelter Director, Eara Nixon, and some background on Wise Temple’s role with the organization from volunteer, Carol Kabel.
See the program in action at Wise Temple and hear from longtime volunteers and guests.
Hear from Wise Temple volunteer, Steve Zimmerman, about his passion for the program with Found House IHN, and how easy and rewarding the experience can be for volunteers.
Below are examples of roles that Wise Temple volunteers may fulfill when participating in the Found House IHN program.
Copyright © 2024 Wise Temple. All rights reserved. Website built by Addicott Web.