MONROE - The Green County Homeless Prevention Coalition is partnering with The Interfaith Hospitality Network.
Family Promise is a national, non-profit organization that assists religious and community organizations in developing and operating affiliate programs. Their goal is to alleviate homelessness by fostering the development of affiliates that provide shelter, meals and assistance for homeless persons, and that increase community involvement in direct service and advocacy.
Homelessness is a growing concern in Green County. According to the organization, 175 households were either homeless or near-homeless in 2010 and from Jan. 1 through March 31 of this year, 90 new households were either homeless or close to homeless.
Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN), a program of Family Promise is joining with congregations in Green County to pool resources to help families who are homeless.
Bob Beck, a psychologist at the Monroe Clinic, was instrumental in bringing the program here. He received very positive responses when contacting local churches. "Most churches have been looking for ways to reach out to the community," Beck said. "Those churches are in Brodhead, Monroe, Monticello and New Glarus. It has been much easier than I thought."
Nine churches have committed to hosting families a week at a time, four times each year with the help and support of 10 others, and four more churches are considering being a host church. In addition to area churches, the pediatrics department at the Monroe Clinic has offered support.
The coalition is not officially up and running, but is expected to be in the next few months. The Monroe United Methodist Church has offered to accept donations until a permanent office is established.
To donate, make checks payable to the United Methodist Church, add IHN: FAMILY PROMISE in the memo section, and send to Monroe UMC, 2227 4th St., Monroe, WI, 53566.
Family Promise is a national, non-profit organization that assists religious and community organizations in developing and operating affiliate programs. Their goal is to alleviate homelessness by fostering the development of affiliates that provide shelter, meals and assistance for homeless persons, and that increase community involvement in direct service and advocacy.
Homelessness is a growing concern in Green County. According to the organization, 175 households were either homeless or near-homeless in 2010 and from Jan. 1 through March 31 of this year, 90 new households were either homeless or close to homeless.
Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN), a program of Family Promise is joining with congregations in Green County to pool resources to help families who are homeless.
Bob Beck, a psychologist at the Monroe Clinic, was instrumental in bringing the program here. He received very positive responses when contacting local churches. "Most churches have been looking for ways to reach out to the community," Beck said. "Those churches are in Brodhead, Monroe, Monticello and New Glarus. It has been much easier than I thought."
Nine churches have committed to hosting families a week at a time, four times each year with the help and support of 10 others, and four more churches are considering being a host church. In addition to area churches, the pediatrics department at the Monroe Clinic has offered support.
The coalition is not officially up and running, but is expected to be in the next few months. The Monroe United Methodist Church has offered to accept donations until a permanent office is established.
To donate, make checks payable to the United Methodist Church, add IHN: FAMILY PROMISE in the memo section, and send to Monroe UMC, 2227 4th St., Monroe, WI, 53566.
