Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services is a collaboration of people of faith and people of conscience who have joined together to shelter and serve individuals experiencing homelessness. Sanctuary provides overnight shelter for men, women, and children and provides supportive services that promote greater self-sufficiency, improved well-being, and permanent housing acquisition.
Beginning in 2005, Interfaith Sanctuary operated an emergency winter shelter for two seasons and served over 700 men, women and children. In the fall of 2007, Sanctuary was able to purchase a 10,200 sq. foot building in downtown Boise and open for year-round shelter and supportive services on November 1, 2007. In the first year of operations, Sanctuary served almost 1,000 individuals. Over 55,000 bed nights are provided each year with nightly averages of 155.
Sanctuary offers services to a wide sector of those experiencing homelessness including two-parent intact families, single father families, and single mother families with a male child over age 12 who are not eligible for emergency shelter services at any other location in Boise. While our target population is men, women, and families who are homeless, other underserved populations are represented in this group victims of domestic abuse, persons with mental and/or physical illness, veterans, persons with drug/alcohol abuse issues, and those facing under/unemployment.
Our Values
Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services (ISHS) has adopted the following values to guide our work:
- Dignity and Respect: ISHS recognizes and respects the inherent dignity, and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of society.
- Compassion: ISHS seeks to understand each person in his/her environment, meet individuals where they are, and assist them in realizing their inherent potential toward health and happiness.
- Diversity: ISHS believes in the high value of diversity. Diversity is desired in our organization; its presence leads to greater knowledge, understanding, and peaceful coexistence of all members of the human family.
- Community and Collaboration: We are social beings who depend on community for survival and well being, just as the community depends on its individual members. ISHS promotes this interdependency to better the community and its members.
- Integrity: ISHS is committed to a core set of values. These values are reflected in the direction, programs, and daily decisions at ISHS.
- Vision and Leadership: ISHS can see a better life, for even the most downtrodden of our society. Through committed leadership, ISHS works to make this vision a reality.
- Holistic Partnerships: Through carefully nurtured relationships developed in the community, ISHS and its partners are able to assist people in bettering all aspects of their lives.
- Human Investment and Personal Goal Attainment: ISHS seeks to assist people in self-growth and self-determination through access to knowledge, support, and essential services.
- Interfaith Cooperation: ISHS is made up of people of faith and people of good will, creating a balanced and harmonious cooperative from which to provide a unique response to homelessness. In this harmony, each faith and belief system is equally valued.
How You Can Help
Interfaith Sanctuary is a true community effort and is made possible through the generosity of many individuals, businesses, and organizations. If you would like to be involved with Sanctuary, there are many ways to lend your support:
1. Volunteer: Sanctuary has nine paid staff (4 full-time and 5 part-time) and schedules over 65 community volunteers each week to operate the shelter. Opportunities to check in guests, provide hospitality, help clean in the mornings, and provide support to our residents are available. Click here for more information.
2.Donate Supplies: Donations of food items, cleaning supplies, and paper products are needed each week. Click here for the master supply list.
3. Make a financial donation: Most of our operational funds currently come from private donations. Our current cost of providing shelter and supportive services for one individual per night is approximately $8. One-time or automatic monthly donations are accepted online through Network for Good. Interfaith Sanctuary is a 501 c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible.
ISHS prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, family status, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity/expression, disability or age.
