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PrintOpen Doors, Open Hearts
“Don’t judge a book by its cover” couldn’t be more apropos when taking a cursory glance at Johnson County.
The wealthiest county in Kansas, the average household income of its denizens hovers around $75,000 a year. Yet the homeless population—those living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, vehicles, or on the streets—has increased by 50 percent over the past year, according to one community service agency.
And that number is climbing.
Nevertheless, Johnson Countians are compassionate, giving, and resourceful, joining together in countless ways to support the community they call home. This spirit of community is aptly demonstrated through the dedicated work of the Johnson County Interfaith Hospitality Network, Inc. (JoCoIHN).
Coming Together to Change Lives
Founded in 2003 and affiliated with 160-plus hospitality network programs across the country, JoCoIHN brings together 33 Johnson County congregations and groups to provide homeless families with emergency shelter, meals, and social service assistance from caring people in the faith community.
According to Vicki Dercher, JoCoIHN’s executive director, the collaboration is vital to their ability to meet the increasing number of homeless in the Johnson County community.
“A great many individuals do not believe Johnson County has a homeless population. However, over the past several years, our homeless population has increased and the greatest increase is in the number of homeless children,” Dercher explains.
At JoCoIHN’s Family Center located at 11503 S. Strang Line Road in Olathe, homeless individuals and families—referred to as guests—receive a variety of support including case management services, access to shower facilities, phones, computers, housing and employment resources, and school bus transportation for the children.
The needs are great and growing, Dercher says. “I have worked in social services for 30 years. The greatest change I have seen is the increase in situationally homeless individuals [those homeless due to a job loss or similar circumstances, rather than because of chronic issues such as addiction or mental illness], and an increase in first-time callers in need of assistance. Of the people we serve in an average year, approximately 60-65 percent are children under age 18.”
It Takes an (Interfaith) Village to…
JoCoIHN’s partners are invaluable to the organization’s mission. Host congregations, whose volunteers receive training from JoCoIHN through a primary coordinator working directly with Dercher, host about a dozen people (typically four to five families), every three to four months, in one-week blocks of time.
During that week, they transform classrooms and other areas into comfortable overnight accommodations, and provide meals and activities in a clean, safe and supportive environment. Support congregations and groups typically participate by teaming up with host congregations to provide volunteers to help serve meals.
Zach Sewell is the minister of adult education and community ministry at Overland Park Church of Christ. He credits volunteering with JoCoIHN for offering people a better understanding of homelessness.
“Due to the affluence of Johnson County, there is a misconception about its homeless population,” Sewell says. “Our participation has given some of our members a new outlook on why many families become homeless and what we can do to help them.”
Sewell points to one example in particular. “There was a family with several young children that spent the night at our church. Both parents lost their jobs, the kids had some medical issues, and they had lost their residence and most of their possessions. After being in JoCoIHN’s program for less than six months, the dad found full-time employment, the kids are getting their medical needs met, and they live in their own place. We’ve learned that most families have stories with similar outcomes because of JoCoIHN’s efforts.”
Lend a Helping Hand
Since its inception, the organization has successfully trained more than 2,200 volunteers, ‘graduated’ more than 300 guests, strengthened and increased their board of directors and development projects, and implemented several new fundraising events.
Johnson Countians can help JoCoIHN by lending their time, talent and treasure in myriad ways, including volunteering at the Family Center, hosting or attending a fundraising event, and/or providing financial support, which is tax-deductible. Volunteer opportunities include serving as a van driver taking guests from the Family Center to a host congregation, preparing meals, or offering professional expertise to the organization’s Development Committee.
“We are here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help the homeless,” says Dercher, “and we need area congregations, groups, individuals and financial support to continue serving the growing needs of the Johnson County community.”
On March 30, 2012 JoCoIHN will hold its first benefit auction—Pathway Home, A Charity Auction to Benefit Homeless Families in Johnson County—at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish in Overland Park. One of a series of new fundraisers developed to strengthen the organization’s ability to empower Johnson County’s homeless families, the event will feature JoCo businessmen and philanthropists David and George Nigro of Nigro Brothers as auctioneers.
For more information, visit jocoihn.org.
