A Host Congregation provides lodging, meals, and caring hospitality for homeless families in our community. Congregations live their faith locally by not only providing safe and secure lodging but equally as important, a sense of community. When one is homeless and sometimes hopeless, knowing that people care means a lot. Hosting also gives volunteers the opportunity to provide hands-on outreach in their own congregation facility. The following outlines the basic elements needed to be a Host Congregation:
* Designated space to host up to 4-5 families (14 individuals) for a week at a time, 4 times/year. Guest areas should remain set up and secure all week. Congregations host families from 5:00 pm to 6:30 am Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.
* Sleeping accommodations should be as homelike as possible. Ideally, each family will have a private sleeping area – e.g. in a classroom. Alternatively, if one large room must be utilized, partitions and beds may be supplied by Interfaith Council, if needed.
* Living area/hospitality room that can be shared by adults and children.
* At least one bathroom (Day Center has shower).
* A Host Congregation provides a person(s) to serve as the Primary Coordinator to recruit needed volunteers for the host week, attend scheduled meetings and act as the main contact.
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Host Congregations 2010
Chatham United Methodist Church
Church of The Redeemer Episcopal, Morristown
Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, Chatham
First Baptist Community Church, Parsippany
Hillside Lutheran Brethren, Succasunna
Jacksonville Chapel, Wayne
Mendham Hills Community Church
Morristown United Methodist Church
Our Lady Star of The Sea Roman Catholic Church, Lake Hopatcong
Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township
Presbyterian Church of New Providence
Redeemer Lutheran Church, Succasunna
Shrine of Saint Joseph, Stirling
St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church, Butler
St. Vincent The Martyr Church, Madison
Stanley Congregational UCC, Chatham
Temple Shalom, Succasunna
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