About Us

• Mission
• Goals
• Board of Directors
• Staff
• Consultants
• Congregations
• Supporters
• Case Study

Mission

Goals

• to end homelessness by providing affordable housing opportunities in our community
• to create long-range solutions to poverty by providing financial literacy training, asset development strategies, job training opportunities, and access to safe and affordable day care
• to nurture active and meaningful participation from a growing congregational membership base
• to educate the community about the causes of homelessness and community-based solutions

Board of Directors

Staff

Congregations

Member Congregations

What our Congregation Members Do

• provide volunteers to serve as mentors, board and committee members, or "extra hands" to help with renovation projects, furniture donations, special events, etc.
• make annual donations that provide the foundation of financial support to the organization
• provide unused congregation property to be converted into affordable housing for SSIHC residents
• provide space for board meetings, mentor trainings and special events
• promote, publicize and participate in SSIHC's activities
• organize congregation youth groups or others to volunteer at SSIHC on property clean-up days, renovation projects or other special activities
• organize special collections of household needs
• provide SSIHC families access to their food pantries and thrift stores free or at reduced cost
• educate congregation members about the causes of homelessness and some of the ways faith-based institutions can get involved to end homelessness
• offer their day care, summer camp, or other programs to SSIHC families at free or reduced cost

Supporters

Case Study

In 2001, a committee of congregation members from Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Silver Spring reviewed options for a vacant home located on congregation property. Choices included leveling this 1920's bungalow to create much-needed additional parking. After hearing about SSIHC, the committee selected the far more challenging, yet ultimately more fulfilling option of creating affordable housing for a needy family. This courageous committee succeeded in convincing their entire congregation and church trustees to commit volunteers and financial resources to renovating the property for a homeless family.

The project has mobilized members of the congregation who previously had not been involved in community outreach activities. A core group of 10 volunteers have worked tirelessly for 15 months to guide renovations, actually doing much of the work themselves. They have also recruited dozens of other congregation members who now view this type of project as an ideal opportunity to express their faith through action.