What We Do
NPIHN provides professional human services for families in need. We help them cope with the trauma of losing a home, assist families in staying intact, and support our families as they move toward permanent housing.
What distinguishes NPIHN from other shelter programs is our commitment to family preservation. Whereas traditional shelters accommodate women and children separately from men, NPIHN keeps families intact. We accept families of all configurations, including: couples, households headed by fathers, and mothers with adolescent sons.
Guest families are provided with private rooms in the quiet, nurturing settings of host congregations. They receive meals and hospitality from congregational volunteers. Adult guests either work during the day or go to the NPIHN Day Center in Mt. Airy where they receive supportive services from NPIHN counselors and volunteers.
During or after a period of homelessness, families often need more than shelter to rebuild their independence. NPIHN works to connect our families to resources that will expand their world of opportunity. Guests participate in weekly life skills workshops, weekly support groups, and individual therapy sessions to address practical and emotional barriers to independence. Well-established community partnerhips provide families with material support and financial literacy education. Families attend cultural events and visit museums through our membership in ArtReach. And children and teens in our program are provided with scholarships to participate in academic and extracurricular programs that match their interests.
Besides offering shelter and support to families at our congregations, NPIHN has provided telephone counseling to 296 families and individuals in crisis during this past year. Families call our office daily for assistance in finding shelter. While openings in our program are limited, we try to direct our callers to suitable alternatives. We take the time to match people with appropriate services.
