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Interfaith Hospitality Network: A circle of community concern Laura A. Hobson Special to Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK
“Interfaith Hospitality Network will help you if you will help yourself,” said Channell Rogers, 20. “You have to do something productive.” Rogers grew up in Bond Hill, graduated from Woodward High School and started a sheet metal apprentice program offered by Peck Hannaford + Briggs Local 24. At 18, she became pregnant and had to drop out of the program. Raised by her grandmother, Rogers later moved in with her godmother in 2016. It was her suggestion to try Interfaith Hospitality Network with a 1year-old Royal Trotter. Nervous, Rogers and her son came to Interfaith in May 2018 after first hesitating. She is now living in West Price Hill in an apartment. She is grateful for the network which helped her pay nine months of rent. On Medicaid, Rogers also received vouchers for furniture. Currently, she is learning to drive. She eventually wants to return to the sheet metal program. Rogers not only received tangible gifts from Interfaith Hospitality Network, but also intangible support. “They take the stress off you,” she said. Interfaith Hospitality Network’s mission is to provide homeless families emergency shelter, helping them transition to permanent housing, and hospitality. Although the center is located in the heart of Walnut Hills, it reaches into the community with hosting sites and community support. Started in 1991 as an emergency shelter with eight congregations participating, the center now has over 100 congregational partners of all faiths and wraparound support which extends beyond emergency shelter. Twenty-six host congregations provide a site with food, beds and activities. These include Adath Israel Congregation, Knox Presbyterian Church, First United Church of Christ, Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and Ihsan Community Center. There are 78 support congregations, meaning those
that provide volunteers for food and activities with the children. Included in this group are All Saints Catholic Church, Congregation Beth Adam, Clifton United Methodist Church, and Mount Washington Presbyterian Church. Executive Director Stacey Burge described the wide variety of services that the center offers. ❚ Emergency shelter during the day is provided with overnight housing, food and activities at various host congregations. There were 92 families in 2017. Of
that number, 93 percent retained stable housing. ❚ Child enrichment is offered at the day center in Walnut Hills. ❚ Pet Support Program takes care of a family’s pet, whether it be cats, dogs, turtles or lizards. Burge said, “These are children who have lost everything.” So, the center does not separate children from their animals.
Interfaith Hospitality Network guests at Knox Church: Amy Hatfield with son Charlie.
Interfaith Hospitality Network staff, from left, are Erica Robinson, dog Carl and Garrett Parsons.
Channell Rogers and son Royal Trotter at Interfaith Hospitality Network.
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Interfaith Hospitality Network staff, from left, are Meghan Snyder, Stacey Burge, Rebecca Neuberger, Kim Williams and Ben Green. LAURA A. HOBSON FOR THE COMMUNITY PRESS
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