Homeless Families Saved by Salem’s Interfaith Hospitality Network

Since May 1999, a safe respite for homeless families needing shelter, food, transportation, and much needed emotional support has been tucked away on the quiet Edgewater Street in West Salem.

All photos by: Lela Taylor

(SALEM) - Tucked away off Edgewater Street in west Salem is a nondescript two-story house with a nice shade tree in the front yard. The backyard has easily accessible parking spaces. It is unpretentious. The sign in the front yard gives a clue as to what is inside but it is usually ignored by those passing by.

Inside this seemingly unimportant residence is a program that gives hope and understanding to those who are experiencing the worst kind of hardship there is – to have a family and not have a home, or the means to get one.

The Interfaith Hospitality Network is a program affiliated with a national program called Family Promise. It is in 44 states. This program offers assistance to homeless families consisting of single parents, couples, or women or couples who are waiting to be with child. The backbone of this program is unique. It consists of 14 area hosting churches and 17 supporting churches offering assistance with shelter, meals, volunteers, and money.

Each week on a rotating basis these churches help by providing dinner, a place to sleep, and breakfast. The hosting churches represent many denominations, as do the supporting communities of faith. They minister their faith the old fashion way – by offering help, love and hope. They also try to provide a family with their own space to sleep so their privacy is honored.

During the holidays, Mark Lutheran church will invite all families for a Thanksgiving dinner. This is very meaningful for those who are separated by distance from other family members.

In the early evening, Interfaith, via their van, will transport the families to the providing church and pick them up in the morning after breakfast. When back at the Interfaith shelter, the staff will help them with setting their goals, with filing paperwork and with phone calls. They also offer parenting and life-skills training.

Executive Director Richard Zielke,

Richard Zielke, Executive Director of Interfaith Hospitality, states the only criteria for people to get assistance through their program is to be homeless and are willing to look for housing and to access other agencies for further assistance. Their main objective is to help the families set goals and become self-sufficient. With the help of Zielke, the family case manager Greg Kornspan, and the churches, the families are able to do this.

Family Case Manager Greg Kornspan

Kornspan will help them through the sometimes dauntless job of filling out “stacks” of paperwork. This in itself can be intimidating to an individual who is already feeling helpless and hopeless. They are given resources on whom to call to get further assistance from the state, the county, or the city. This process takes time.

Interfaith offers the use of their phones, computers, and faxes. Their guests can also use the center’s address, as this is sometimes a determining factor when seeking needed assistance. The facility has a laundry room and bath facilities for the families to use. Lunches are also provided.

The length of time for a program stay is 30 days, but there are exceptions and time can be extended when exceptional circumstances prevail and more time is needed for the families to reach their set goals.

Zielke says their biggest challenge is in helping the families find a home. Once this is done, then all the other needs seem to fall into place. This fits right in with Maslow’s Theory of Self-Actualization, which is: unless the basic need of an individual is met then nothing else will work until it is, i.e. the physical needs of air, hunger, thirst, rest and shelter - translating in this world as home, food, and financial means.

This reporter was given the opportunity to interview two separate family members who are currently staying at Interfaith. Following are their comments:

Alexiss- family member

Alexiss: “I have been here almost three months and am in the process of waiting for housing. I have a part-time job at Taco Bell and a friend helps by babysitting my 14-month old son. She is waiting to get state assistance for childcare; as if I had to pay for childcare it would take my whole paycheck plus some for the entire month. The biggest benefit Interfaith has given me is just accepting me and giving me a chance. I have been drug free for almost four years now but still having a history of abuse sometimes eliminates me from certain programs or jobs. Interfaith has not been judgmental and doesn’t expect anything other than for me to stick to my goals.” (Through this Alexiss began crying, not out of desperation but out of gratitude that she was getting help. Her little son Jaxton seemed to be oblivious to the whole thing while trying to reach my camera!)

Louis- family member

Louis: “I have been with Interfaith for almost three months. They have been a tremendous help for me, my wife and our nine-year old daughter. Since I was not born in this country (born in Portugal), I have been having a hard time in obtaining a job because of lack of identification papers. Interfaith has been helping me with this process.”

“Interfaith allowed me to come back to their program because of my willingness to work on my goals and they recognized the genuine problem I was having in obtaining my proper documents. If not for their (Interfaith) help, my family and I would be homeless.”

Interfaith is funded through donations by individuals, churches, corporations, corporate grants, and the community. If you are interested in donating to Interfaith, they need such items as diapers, usable furniture for families when they find a home, and general health care products. For further information concerning Interfaith Hospitality, please call (503) 370-9752, or follow this link:

www.open.org/salemihn