Rochester's Homeless Organizations

Every night 15 to 37 homeless people in Rochester seek shelter and a meal.

Many of the homeless have jobs but can’t afford permanent housing. Mental illness and alcoholism are issues for many. According to a recent survey, about a third of the women are homeless due to domestic abuse.

The Interfaith Hospitality Network is a network of 49 area faith communities. It serves homeless families and has room for 14 people each night.

The Salvation Army offers transitional housing assistance for some homeless families, as well as assistance for food, clothing, utilities and medical and dental care.

Sheltering and feeding the homeless is a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week job, and it’s all done by volunteers, 40-50 per week at IHN.

Money raised in the fundraiser will be used by these organizations to carry out their missions.

Interfaith Hospitality Network

Interfaith Hospitality Network is a network of area churches who help homeless families with children under the age of 16, by providing them a place to sleep, food to eat and a safe place for their family 24 hours a day, seven days a week. IHN provides support, caring, and basic needs while the family is in crisis. It gives them a chance to concentrate on finding employment and permanent housing in a safe and caring environment. IHN is part of a national program, "Family Promise", based in Summit, NJ. We need a higher minimum wage for these 'working poor' families and then affordable housing, so that they can live in dignity and hope.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army has been serving Olmsted County and the surrounding area since 1896. Although the services and programs offered have varied over the years to meet the ever-changing needs in this community, its core mission remains the same, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Every day the homeless are served through various programs.  The noon lunch program, Monday and Friday evening meals, bread shelf, food shelf, emergency lodging, basic needs vouchers, the Good Samaritan Health Clinic, Castleview Apartments are all local outreach efforts.  In addition, rent deposit assistance and eviction prevention also aim to prevent or remedy homelessness. The Transitional Living and Counseling program serves up to 7 homeless families with children in scattered site homes throughout the community.  These families are offered an affordable place to live for up to two years, while receiving support services needed to become more self sufficient.