Family Service League and HIHI 2024
FSL remains the recipient one of the larger grants annually by St John’s and the Outreach committee. Members of the Committee visited with FSL leadership in late June to catch-up and hear an update on FSL’s 65 programs that span 24 locations.
Our largest grant to FSL is for their Huntington Interfaith Housing Initiative (HIHI) program, which is supported by over two dozen congregations in the area.
HIHI is a winter housing program for homeless men that runs from December to March. It fills a gap that cannot be served through the county shelter system due, for the most part, to immigration status. FSL is working with the County to address this gap but continues to operate the HIHI program in the interim.
COVID was an especially challenging time for HIHI. It was no longer feasible for different congregations to house the men, so they tried different program models in search of the best way to serve the men safely. In the height of the pandemic, FSL tried housing them at the Gloria Dei Lutheran church in Huntington Station. However, this was very expensive and presented a variety of challenges.
For the past two years, FSL has adopted a new model, housing the men in a motel.
In support of this model, different congregations, including St. John’s, offer a nightly schedule of meal delivery. The meal program is coordinated by FSL. Simple dinners are prepared by parishioners offsite and delivered to the accommodations where the men are sheltered.
The current model is also not without its challenges but it seems to be the best solution at this time. It is more affordable than previous solutions, and the men have access to a heated room with a shower, TV’s and laundry etc. There is dignity in that. Some occupants eventually get permanent housing, and having a stable address helps with job applications. There are, however, concerns about having multiple men to a room, less supervision, less social interaction and fewer meals than were offered in the pre-Covid model. FSL is working on ways to address those concerns, including creating a daytime “cafe” program where the men can socialize and access services as needed.
We continue to monitor HIHI’s progress and have committed to supporting it for the 2024/25 season. We are working alongside FSL leadership and our fellow HIHI congregations to help the program evolve and respond to the needs of the men. St John’s will continue to be a partner in meal preparation and delivery throughout the winter season. Watch ASJ for more details on how you can help!
