FISH - Trinity Joins the Local Fight against Homelessness & Poverty

What is FISH?  FISH is a part of the Family Promise organization, Interfaith Hospitality Network, as well as the NJ Alliance for the Homeless.  It is a program that provides temporary housing to the situationally homeless, through affiliations with local churches. FISH provides assistance to the guests in finding housing and jobs.  They also provide counseling with a Social Worker, and help families establish a financial plan.

Who are the guests?  FISH has a very stringent selection process to ensure the safety of all participants.  These are people that, through various circumstances in their life, find themselves homeless.  Single men are never admitted to the program.  Most of the people served are either families or single mothers with children.  There are some single women.

How many guests at a time?  FISH limits its participants to no more than 14 at a time (regardless of age).  Once you see it in person, you realize it is no more that having family over for Thanksgiving dinner at your home.  Most guests are in the program 60-90 days.

When would guests be at the church?  The “guests” are housed for a week at a time in local churches.  The guests arrive between 5-5:30 pm, are served dinner at 6:00 pm, sleep overnight in the church, and are then transported to a day facility at 6:30 am.  Each church involved receives their guests on Sunday evening and house them until the following Sunday morning.  Guests are not allowed to return to the host church during the day, and are not permitted to have company while in the program.

How would guests and their belongings get to and from Trinity?  FISH provides transportation for guests.  Trinity would either provide drivers or their own vehicles to transport beds and belongings.

What would our responsibility as a church be?  We would need to provide bed linens (FISH provides cots); dinner; breakfast and lunch supplies for 1 week – 3 to 4 times a year.  We are also asked to provide laundry supplies and coins for the Laundromat.  Other than that, we are just asked to provide a safe, non-judgmental, confidential environment of friendship and support.  We sit with the guests when they eat, and interact with them during the evening hours. We may also provide homework assistance, if needed.  We may provide TV, movies, games, toys or books for guests. We are not expected to provide advice or counseling!  Guests' birthdays are expected to be celebrated. We do not get involved with administration of medications or health related treatments.  We are, however, provided a snapshot of the people we will be hostin, approximately one week ahead of time so that we can prepare and make sure allergies, etc. are taken care of. 

How would we get things we need to provide services?  We are asking the congregation for donations of bed linens, gently used toys, games and books.  Volunteers from the congregation are asked to cook dinners, and provide supervision while the guests are here.  We will also need volunteers to help with setup and take down. 

Where would the guests sleep?  We would set up the cots in the Deacons Room, Youth Lounge, Media Center, Eberwein Room, and Nursery.  People who stay from our church would sleep in the copy room.  These rooms would be designated as rooms “in use” during the week, so commissions, etc. would be displaced while FISH participants were at Trinity.  The guests’ belongings will remain in the rooms they are staying in for the duration of their time with us.

Where would supervision come from?  Volunteers from our church, or community.  There should be two volunteers for each time slot and all volunteers need to be Trinity “Child of the Covenant” trained.  Parents are responsible for supervision of their children.  The only time this is not the case is when FISH transports the parents to the Laundromat one evening a week.

Would there be training for volunteers?  Yes, the FISH program will train volunteers, and we will try to arrange a Children of the Covenant training following that so that our volunteers are equipped to serve.

Why is it important for Trinity to participate?  The mission is easily discerned - we are called to ministers to our neighbors.  As Jesus said, "as you have done to the least of them, you have done unto me."  Moreover, we are constantly reminded that as we journey along the path of discipleship, truest joy is most often found in service. 

What about shower facilities, as we have none?  This has been explained to FISH and that is not a problem.  Shower facilities are available at the Day facility.

What about several rooms' lack of air-conditioning?  A warm, safe, caring place is better than no place to sleep.

What will we do about the conflicts for rooms?  If the church is truly committed to this project, commissions will understand having to meet in a different area of the church once or twice a year.

Who will be coordinating Trinity’s involvement?  Susan Kaczmarek and Debbie O'Halloran have volunteered to administrate the program here at Trinity.

What rooms will we use?

• Deacons’ Room
• Nursery
• Library/Media Center
• Eberwein Room
• Youth Lounge (for Living Room space or as sleeping quarters)
• Copy room (for members of church sleeping over night)
• Lower Kern Hall (for eating & if need lg room for entertainment time)  

FISH Time Schedule

ADDITIONAL DONATIONS NEEDED

• sheets for twin beds and blankets (summer and winter)
• crib and crib sheets
• games and childrens toys
• books or games for adults or teenagers
• cabinet where supplies could be kept
• bedside lights
• washcloths/towels 
• If possible:
• TV, VCR, DVD player
• Cable
• Cots for Trinity Members that are staying over
• Any of the meal, laundry or misc. supplies listed above
• Anything you would think would make someone feel more at home