IHN in 2012

There has been a 51 percent increase this year in the number of local families who were homeless at a single point in time — Jan. 27, according to the Chattanooga Homeless Coalition. That’s the largest increase in family homelessness recorded here since the point-in-time homeless count started in 2001. The average age of a homeless person in the Tennessee Valley is now 9.

In all of 2010, IHN and its member congregations assisted 463 homeless families. Those families included 564 adults and 1,002 children.

IHN works through the cooperative partnerships of over 51 congregations which enlist 100 volunteers each week. IHN operates 365 days and nights each year. Every evening, IHN has two congregations that host homeless families in unused classrooms or other available space. Evening meals, lodging and activities are provided by congregation volunteers.