2009 Brick by Brick Campaign

You can pave the way to open the front doors of the long-awaited

permanent home for IHN.

IHN is only steps away from opening its new

family day center. We would like to give members

of our congregations and synagogues, as

well as members of the Chattanooga community,

the opportunity to be recognized for the countless

hours of service these individuals have given

to the families we serve.

Each paver will cost $100 and can be given in honor or memory of a loved one. A form is provided

www.ihnchattanooga.org

.

Thank you for helping to end homelessness in Chattanooga one family at a time.

2009 Grateful Gobbler

Please join us for the annual Thanksgiving

Grateful Gobbler walk, roll and stroll to

benefit the homeless. The walk begins and

ends at Coolidge Park. For more information

about registration, call the Chattanooga

Regional Homeless Coalition at 752-4807.

Congregations

IHN works though the cooperative partnerships of over 40 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.

Board of Trustees

IHN Staff

IHN Staff

Mary Ellen Galloway, M.Ed., LPC, NCC
Executive Director

Ruth Votava
Administrative Assistant

Dot Saunders
Centralized Intake Program Case Manager

Linda Smith BSW
Overnight Shelter Case Manager

Full Playground

From swings to jungle gyms to sandboxes, the IHN playground is fully enclosed and geared to help develop creativity and friendships.

Donate!

Financial Literacy Committee

Financial Literacy Committee

Carolyn Richie and I have been teaching the module titled “Pay Yourself First” that discusses the reasons to save money and the different ways to save.  I have to admit that initially I was not convinced that “teaching” this program (especially this module) to homeless people was a good idea.   Why would anyone that was homeless be interested in or able to save money when they didn’t even have a place to live? Would they be resentful of people “telling” them how they should be handling their finances, especially since they have not volunteered to take the classes but are required to do so?

After only one time teaching this class, I became convinced that the FDIC Money Smart program is extremely beneficial and that the teaching of it to the clients at IHN is making a positive impact.  Actually, teaching is not the correct term.  We are sharing basic financial concepts with the participants, and they are sharing their knowledge with us.    I have learned a lot about how rent-to-own, pawn your title, and payday loan companies work!  Hopefully, Carolyn & I have been able to share with them alternatives to using these services.  It was eye-opening to realize that these clients had very little basic financial knowledge – knowledge that we take for granted (for example, the fact that you can open a savings account at a bank or credit union with any amount of money and that you can access that money anytime). 

Since we have started this program, we have seen three different families get jobs and move into housing.  They have all said that what we have shared with them has been beneficial and that they are more confident that they will be able to better manage their finances in the future.  One couple recently opened a credit union account and told us it was a direct result of what we had discussed regarding saving money and establishing a relationship with a bank.  The clients are very open about sharing their lives with us and ask lots of good questions regarding money.  They are very receptive to learning and want to make their lives better.  This has been a rewarding experience for me and I think for the other ASWA members taking part in this program.

Susan LeVan