Page 20 - Giving Guide_FINAL

20 A TIME FOR GIVING

There’s movement around

Interfaith Sanctuary.

Physically speaking, guests at “We’re able to safely space,
Interfaith Sanctuary now have not and take care of a larger number
just one, but four facilities open of people, getting them off the
with services. Before COVID-19 street,” said Jodi Peterson-Stigers,
impacted the area, the nonprofit executive director of Interfaith
had about 184 guests staying at Sanctuary. “It’s doing really well.
the shelter. It’s just a beautiful space. And we days a week. Support groups are way to help, because it’s a big
Now, the main property is have really good support.” meeting at the warming shelter, building.” Volunteers could help
currently housing single men The nonprofit has a campaign and it is offering computer access with ensuring masks are being
and women, socially distanced underway, “Help Us Help Them for job application or other worn, executing “intake” and other
of course. To allow for that room, Stay Safe And Warm,” which, as necessities. tasks.
families seeking shelter, and Peterson-Stigers describes, shows “We’ve opened our doors Interfaith Sanctuary’s mission
those medically fragile, now the community who Interfaith during the day, to provide anyone remains “to make sure our
occupy hotel rooms, through a Sanctuary is and what it has been who’s homeless, that needs that homeless are taken care of, they’re
partnership with the City of Boise. doing during the pandemic. While kind of support, access,” Peterson- warm and safe, and they still
If someone should test positive for day-to-day operations expanded Stigers said. “You don’t have to be have access to opportunity, and
the coronavirus, there is a different and their costs increased, the a guest at our shelter to be able to to moving out of homelessness,”
hotel shelter they can stay at, volunteer workforce shrank. Some get that kind of support.” Peterson-Stigers said. “We’re still
and staff with Family Medicine partner agencies have had to close The warming shelter, open getting our guests into recovery;
Residency of Idaho are onsite to their doors for an indeterminate seven days a week, is an ideal we’re still helping them with their
offer care. time period; in at least one case, place for those who wish to mental health; we are moving
And, finally, as the winter Interfaith Sanctuary absorbed that volunteer, to stay connected with them into jobs, and we are moving
months are underway, Interfaith role; it now offers meal options the city’s homeless population. them out of the shelter into
Sanctuary has just opened up three times a day. Additionally, “There’s so much space that housing.”
its warming shelter, in the old Interfaith Sanctuary’s budget was we feel it’s a safe place to invite “We just have to do it with a
Foothills School of Arts and not prepared for a pandemic. volunteers back,” Peterson-Stigers lot more barriers,” she continued.
Sciences building. The warming Case management services said. “If someone’s looking to “We’re going to need our
shelter can accommodate 60 continue, and the nonprofit runs reconnect with our population, community.”
guests at a time. a preschool program onsite five
this is a really safe, and great

The gift of shelter is the
best way to support Interfaith
Sanctuary throughout the year.

TO DONATE GO TO:

interfaithsanctuary.org