In cooperation with a large network of local faith communities, St. Paul's houses homeless families in our Parish Hall for one-week stays about five times a year. The program involves over 100 St. Paul's volunteers working together to shop, cook, clean, launder, and -- most important -- share time and fellowship with our guests.

St. Paul's will host San Mateo IHN (Interfaith Hospitality Network) this Fall October 14 - 21 and November 4 - 11. IHN addresses the problem of homelessness by providing emergency shelter at 15 host congregations throughout San Mateo County. Each host congregation provides overnight shelter for three to five families (up to 14 adults & children). Guests in the program arrive at 6:30 PM and leave at 7:00 AM the next morning. St. Paul's provides the guests with dinner, a private sleeping space for each family, breakfast and a bag lunch.  The IHN Day Center provides showers, computers, lockers, and assistance for appropriate social services. All guests are carefully screened prior to entry into the program. You can help by assisting with dinner one night a week, spend the night as one of the volunteers, shop for groceries, do some laundry, and/or help with set up and take down of the sleeping quarters. Please contact Barb Anderson (650) 558-9649, or Bonnie Adams (650) 342-0618 if you would like to be part of this important ministry.

"To the Church of St. Paul’s: Thank you for giving us a place to stay for a week. And it’s a very good place. I really like it so much that I want to live in it. Thanks you."
From the artist of the above picture, a young visitor

For more information contact: Barbara Anderson

View Photo Gallery of IHN Silent Auction September 2007: Money Raised $8,000+