Durham Interfaith Hospitality Network

Durham Interfaith Hospitality Network (DIHN) addresses the needs of homeless families by mobilizing churches, synagogues, and people of faith to help families move toward residential stability.

DIHN provides a way for people of faith and the community at large to respond to the needs of homeless families in a focused, efficient, and effective way. DIHN provides a homelike setting with a small number of families. DIHN offers a separate room for each family unit with twin beds, allowing comfort and privacy. Meals are served family style, with home-cooked food provided by generous volunteers. DIHN transforms underutilized spaces (education rooms, kitchens, and fellowship halls) in congregation buildings into safe, quiet overnight accomodations. Most notably, the unique model we use connects every aspect of the community. Families interact with each other and share support and encouragement; congregation members have a heart-to-heart, hand-to-hand experience directly assisting families in need; congregations partner together across lines of denomication and sect. Congregational unity, interfaith cooperation, stewardship of resources, family cohesion, alleviation of homelessness...DIHN meets human need and transforms the lives of volunteers and guests alike.