Our Mission

     The Interfaith Council for the Homeless is a 501 (c)3 organization established in 1991 to combat homelessness in the eight towns on the Lower Cape.

History

The Interfaith Council was established in 1991 to combat homelessness in the eight towns of Chatham, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. We have provided continuous service toward that goal since our beginning in 1991. Our premise was that what individual towns and churches are not structured to do individually, they can achieve with a central agency providing a professional and experienced staff supported by qualified individuals. As a community based organization, we are positioned to identify the unique problems and the available resources to prevent or intervene in homelessness.

Goal

The ultimate goal is to assist and empower homeless and near homeless individuals and families to attain sustained self-sufficiency.

How Do We Combat Homelessness?

Our programs and services fall into two main categories:

• Professional Case Management, and
• Facilitating Community-Based Responses

Professional Case Management

Interfaith Council provides professional case management services that give extensive counseling and guidance to those at risk of becoming homeless. This aspect of the client services includes: advocacy/access to housing programs and funding; budgeting; and negotiation for rent and mortgage back-payments. In addition, the case managers are well aware that lack of financial resources is a major concern for many of their clients. Clients are encouraged to assess their current financial situation including their ability to earn a living and, if appropriate, the case managers assist those individuals in their pursuit of further job training and/or education.

Interfaith Council attempts to preserve existing housing where possible as we have found that this is most often the lowest cost approach, and that finding alternative housing is very difficult. Interfaith addresses many other client needs that usually accompany housing problems, such as furniture, food, transportation, financial counseling and guidance through the process of applying for private, state or federal assistance. Interfaith is often the last resort for clients searching to solve their housing problem.

Our services are provided primarily from our office in Orleans. Initial contact as well as much of the follow-up is usually done by telephone. Individuals are encouraged to come into the office and sit with a case manager to discuss their situation in private. When necessary we will visit our clients at their residence.

Community Based Responses

Outer Cape Office

In an attempt to provide easier access to our Outer Cape clients, an office was established in late 2004. It is housed in the Provincetown United Methodist Church and co-located with the Soup Kitchen In Provincetown office. It is opened every Thursday from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM to provide information, advice, and actual casework as needed. This office provides more available hours and more privacy for those individuals in need of an earlier appointment prior to the Soup Kitchen hours. In 2004 we provided services for 74 cases. This was an increase of 64% over 2003, a validation of the extreme need of the people on the Outer Cape.

Facilitating Community-Based Responses

The Interfaith Council facilitated a community-based response to the specific needs of the homeless in Provincetown by helping to establish the Provincetown Coalition for the Homeless. The Soup Kitchen in Provincetown was established and now feeds an average of 50 people a day between the months of November and May. Interfaith was one of the original sponsors of the initiative to assist individuals ready to be released from detoxification and recovery programs through the establishment of Canal House, a residence for people in recovery from substance abuse. The case managers provide their services to the residents of Canal House as requested. Interfaith is also the umbrella organization for the Lower Cape Lunch (Local). Local is a group of volunteers from churches and synagogues, who provide free hot meals and opportunities for socialization on Tuesdays at noon and Thursdays at 6:00 PM. They are located at the St. Joan of Arc Church on Canal Rd. in Orleans MA. Rides are available by calling 508-255-4688.