Interfaith Hospitality Network of Springfield, Inc. runs three large programs to target homelessness called Norm's Place, the Hartley House, and Mulberry Terrace. All of these programs provide goal-setting case management aimed at overcoming barriers in individuals' lives that caused homelessness, equip them with tools to become self-sufficient and move into permanent housing. While in the shelter, individuals are provided with 3 meals daily, show and laundry facilities, shelter, and a seed of hope to those who are homeless in the Clark County Community.
There are many reasons why individuals and families face homelessness: eviction, the breaking up of a family, living in an unsafe location, or loss of employment. In the shelter, individuals are offered intensive case management where an Individual Service Plan (ISP) is established to identify barriers that caused their homelessness and a plan is established to conquer these barriers. This plan might include referrals to agencies who address the barriers such as Mental Health or McKinley Hall, pursue their GED, apply for employment, attend job training classes, work with Job and Family Services, or attend in-house life skills workshops. IHN offers Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counseling on site with a Certified Counselor to reinforce sobriety for those who are currently in or have completed treatment, or those who are waiting to enter detox.
IHN operates the two only emergency shelters for the homeless in Clark County. Norm's Place meets the needs of family and single women, and the Hartley House is a shelter for single men who are homeless. During 2017, Norm's Place served 234 non-duplicated individual women and 163 children; the Hartley House served 315 non-duplicated men. Both of these exceeded their state goals of 40% of those who exited to permanent housing. The shelters were able to reach 76% (Norm’s Place) and 70% (Hartley House) of those who have stayed in the shelter were able to exit to permanent housing!
Mulberry Terrace is a unique program designed to provide individuals with permanent housing with supportive services onsite. The permanent supportive housing program enables clients to reach their individual goals, eliminate barriers, and provides them with the resources to remain in their housing and move toward self-sufficiency. Supportive housing has positive effects on housing stability, employment, mental and physical health, family stability, and school attendance. The Mulberry Terrace has been successfully in operation for 4 years with 34 units helping both families and individuals.
United Way funds are critical to the success of the programming provided by Interfaith hospitality Network to help support the mission by eliminating critical challenges facing our community. Without these funds individuals and families within our community could be faced with no temporary housing options and be turned away to the streets forcing individuals and families to sleep in unsafe situations such as the streets and uninhabitable places. Thus, causing life threatening circumstances for those most vulnerable within our community.
United Way is proud to fund an agency that is making such an impact in the communities of Clark County. If you’re interested to learn more or get involved with the Interfaith Hospitality Network programs then check out their website
Interfaith Hospitality Network
or call 937-325-8154 (Norm's Place), 937-521-1071 (Hartley House), or 937-323-5601 (Mulberry Terrace) today!
