Program areas at IW
Homeless services: the Interfaith Works women's center (iwwc) is a low-barrier and housing-focused emergency shelter that serves adult women experiencing homelessness in montgomery county. Iwwc clients are provided with case management to connect them to a range of resources such as housing location, vocational services, medical, dental, mental health, and legal services.the Interfaith Works emergency shelter (iwes) for women was opened in response to the covid-19 pandemic. It is a low-barrier and housing-focused emergency shelter that serves adult women experiencing homelessness in montgomery county. Iwes clients are provided with case management to connect them to a range of resources such as housing location, vocational services, medical, dental, mental health, and legal services.the Iw overflow shelter (iwof) provides year-round low-barrier shelter for adults experiencing homelessness. Iwof case managers engage shelter clients and work to connect them with resources and housing.the Iw empowerment center (iwec) is a year-round low-barrier day program for adults experiencing homelessness. The program provides a range of services and resources including outreach, case management, primary medical care, psychiatric services, legal services, therapeutic and recreational groups, as well as access to showers and laundry. The iwec houses the Iw overflow shelter program, which is generally open from november-march.priscilla's house and becky's house are two separate permanent supportive housing programs that collectively serve sixteen women diagnosed with chronic physical and behavioral health conditions. Employees assigned to these programs are on duty 24 hours a day to support the residents in maintaining housing. A case management team Works individually with residents to help them improve their health and wellness, by ensuring that they remain connected to needed services and resources.interfaith homes (ifh) is a permanent supportive housing program for formerly homeless individuals who have been diagnosed with a disability. It provides scattered-site apartments with wrap-around supportive services needed for residents to gain greater stability and maintain housing. The supportive service team is comprised of case managers, a nurse, case aide, and a housing services coordinator.the housing initiative program (hip) is a permanent supportive housing program for formerly homeless individuals and families who live with a disability. Through this program, Iw provides case management to those who reside in homes throughout montgomery county. The hip and ifh teams work together to provide supportive services to individuals and families based on their identified needs.the Interfaith Works residences (iwr) provides permanent supportive housing in private living quarters for twenty-one people who are diagnosed with a disability and have experienced homelessness. Iwr helps highly vulnerable individuals maintain housing by providing 24-hour on-site staff and individualized case management.the Interfaith Works rapid rehousing program provides supportive services to formerly homeless men and women receiving temporary housing vouchers from montgomery county health and human services. The program is designed to help individuals to maintain housing in scattered sites across the county with the goal of increasing their income, achieving self-sufficiency, and attaining complete housing independence.
Connections: Interfaith Works connections connects low-income montgomery county residents to essential resources. Fluent in both english and spanish, the resource coordinators conduct assessments to identify client needs and provide them with useful information and referrals to various services. Iw connections provides emergency financial assistance to people behind on rent, mortgage, or utility bills (pepco or Washington gas). Clients may receive assistance once annually with a lifetime cap of three times.
Interfaith Works clothing center: since 1972, the Interfaith Works clothing center (iwcc) has been helping montgomery county low-income families by providing them with clothing and home goods at no charge. This enables them to focus their resources on food, rent, utilities, medicine, school supplies and other basic needs. Through this program, we provide the link between neighbors who have things they no longer need with neighbors who use these items to provide for their basic needs.
Friends in action: provides intensive case management to low-income montgomery county families. Case managers assist families in developing a customized goal plan to help establish goals in the areas of education and employment, health and mental health, parenting, budgeting, home management and practical life skills.
Vocational services (vsp): vsp supports and empowers those who are unemployed or underemployed to develop life and career skills for long-term self-sufficiency. Vsp provides comprehensive, individualized support for low-income and homeless men and women, and strengthens the financial stability of individuals and families through employment-assisted programming. Vocational counselors work with clients until they successfully gain employment, and then for at least one year following placement. Through intensive, personalized one-on-one counseling and coaching sessions, our counselors empower success through employment.
Emergency assistance coalition (eac): the eac is a collaboration of compassionate humanitarian public and private agencies, congregations, and grassroots groups who deliver essential safety net services. The eac helps neighbors resolve a financial or personal crisis related to poverty, housing or food insecurity, homelessness, lack of health care or resources to meet basic needs. Eac services include intervention, financial assistance, referral, counselling, client education, moral support, and advocacy. Under Iw management, the eac fills gaps, utilizes best practices, provides capacity building training, and facilitates communication and consultations to maintain a coordinated approach to delivering emergency assistance services.
Other: incudes activities related to the family independence initiative and education and advocacy.