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Show NOVEMBER Page 4 2004 The West View Interfaith Network Gives Homeless Families Critical Transitional Support the confidence they need to become good citizens.” SLIHN’s network includes 16 hosting churches and 64 supporting congregations (who help with meals and other by Melissa Sillitoe Colleen Melano calls herself a “survivor.” She was frightened when she and her 13-year-old daughter returned to Utah in 2003 without jobs or housing. A friend told her about a program called the Salt Lake Interfaith Hospitality Network (SLIHN) families in local met and Melano and includes Catholics, Disciples of Christ, Methodists, Episcopals, Latter-Day Saints, Jews, and Lutherans. that offers overnight shelter and food for homeless churches, necessities), In 2003, 87 families (309 individu- als) slept overnight in host churches and 1550 additional individuals received food, clothing, and use of the day facil- the criteria of being drug-free. Her daughter felt uneasy at first, liv- ing in community churches while they waited for housing. “But after meeting ities, the other families, she cried at the end, because we were losing them. Every day was like a picnic.” Melano now works for SLIHN as a Family Advocate helping other guests become self-sufficient. Vickie Neuman of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church founded SLIHN, now located at 802 West 800 South, in 1994, SLIHN is a network of community churches and synagogues joining together to provide overnight lodging, meals and assistance to homeless families in transition. Members of the host church and supporting churches serve dinner and eat family-style with the guests, Volunteer hosts spend the night on cots with the guest families. Family advocate Colleen Melano provides loving care for children at the SLIHN’s Family Promise Learning Center, while their parent(s) are out applying for jobs or going to classes. Photo by Charlotte Fife-Jepperson Longtime volunteer Marge Saunders of Mount Tabor Lutheran Church chuckled as she recalled the time she and her husband didn’t wake up at 7 a.m. when it was time for the guest family to leave, in spite of sleeping on an unfamiliar cot. She is pleased to have a concrete way to exercise her belief in the importance of THE WEsT View November 2004 Issue Submission Deadline: Wednesday, December 1 We welcome your stories, photos, and opinions. Please notify us if you know of something in the community that deserves coverage. Email us at editor@thewestview.org or call (801)355-9572 caring for her neighbor. Pastor Paul Ward of Mount Tabor Lutheran Church agrees. “It’s our Christian duty...we believe there are people in need and we want to do our part as Christians. This is a good organization that does a lot for people who are down on their luck or in between jobs. They help people gain referrals, and furniture for their new homes. Most families stay from 30 to 90 days, and approximately 80 percent of past guests have received permanent housing as a result of SLIHN’s efforts. Half of the guests are children. SLIHN was honored for its humanitarian work at the Catholic Community Service's annual dinner im October, along with President Gordon B. Hinckley of the LDS Church and CCS’s Good Samaritan program. Development Director Kathryn Brussard commented that SLIHN was selected because, better than any other single agency, “it encompasses a wide range of churches and programs working together, and they take a hands-on approach to their work with homeless people.” Want More Business For Your Business? ALL EYES ARE ON US!!! When You Want People To See Your More Than Just Internet. The Valley ournals Snr oe id RT SEA DRS REPRE SEE OS SO I TEE INSET Business... :| TECHNOLOGY @ WORK] | | | Call Roy Nydegger 243-8637 | | | | | | | Salt Lake East, Murray, Cottonwood / Holladay and Taylorsville / Kearns DSL | Colocation Web Hosting MC | Web Ae | Network Consulting ME eee Salt Lake North & Salt Lake South Call Steve Staker 560-2514 11 Journals, 17 Communities 335,000 Delivered monthly, | Over | million eyes on us. Salt Lake West, West Valley, Sandy and South Valley Call Dale Young 577-4755 South Valley and West Jordan Call Boyd Petersen 580-3310 Visit our web site for more information: www.valleyjournals.com |