Our History

Interfaith Hospitality Network of Somerset County (IHN-SC) has served homeless families since 1992. It was created in response to the growing number of homeless families in Somerset County. A network of volunteers was formed from local religious congregations to provide emergency shelter, meals, support services to homeless families with children.

In Fall 2003, IHN-SC opened the doors to Sunrise House, a transitional living facility located in Bridgewater, NJ. We added our Phase 2 Transitional Support Program which provides an additional 18 months of case management and support to clients after they leave our Emergency Shelter Program. This has proven effective in preventing relapse of our families into homelessness. In 2006, the NJ Department of Community Affairs awarded project based rental assistance vouchers to IHN/SC for two apartments in North Plainfield. This is Phase 3 Permanent Supported Housing.

In 2008, we initiated our Sound Minds program component. This provides mental health services to our clients directly from our agency and is flexible with our clients’ transportation, scheduling and crisis intervention needs.

In March of 2013, IHNSC added a homeless prevention dimension to our program services. We provide case management, financial counseling, mental health service(s) and basic needs support to families who are struggling to maintain permanent housing and are considered at high risk of becoming homeless. This is our Rapid Re-housing component under the Homeless Trust Fund Rental Assistance Program.

In March, 2014 we initiated a pilot program to provide quality childcare and pre-school education, including transportation to our parents for children from infants through Kindergarten. We are working in collaboration with the Somerset Valley YMCA, and have been documenting the outcomes of this valuable program which we are calling “Daycare Plus”. We are actively seeking sufficient funding to make this a formal expansion of services components in our complete continuum of care.

IHN-SC is part of a national network of homeless shelters providing a community response to homelessness through involvement of interdenominational religious congregations. The national agency is ‘Family Promise’ and includes programs throughout the United States.

Help Us To Help Struggling Families Become Self Sufficient

Please help the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Somerset County NJ continue to give hope to homeless families in Somerset County. Your financial donation, supplies, volunteer your time or other convenient options can make a meaningful impact in the lives of the less fortunate. For more information, contact our office at (908) 704-1920.

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