Overview
Durham Interfaith Hospitality Network (DIHN) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation founded in 1993 and opened its doors to homeless families in the Durham area in January 1994. Our mission at DIHN is to address the needs of homeless families in Durham by mobilizing volunteers from over 30 Durham congregations to provide immediate shelter and food, while the professional staff helps the families actualize their long-term goals of greater social functioning including, but not limited to, residential stability, employment, childcare, financial stability, transportation, health insurance and care, and psychological well-being.
In the current model, our participating congregations host three families for one week at a time on a rotating basis. Guests stay overnight at the host congregation in private rooms and receive an evening and morning meal. During the day, a small house serves as a base for other family activities and for case management services. With a capacity of three families (10-12 people), DIHN provides personalized case management services including housing assistance, credit counseling, life skills training, job search, accessing appropriate medical care, and ensuring that children are properly immunized and in school or day care. Support services can continue for up to one year after a family leaves DIHN.