Homeless families and individuals are referred to as guests when they are sheltered by host churches in the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Denver.

"When we are helping others, they are also helping us. They are helping us in other ways by showing strength, courage and tenacity. We learn from them too," Fred Setzer said about how he feels helping homeless families in Jefferson County get back on their feet through the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Denver or IHN.

Setzer, the IHN primary coordinator for Faith Lutheran Church in Golden, has been helping with the program since it expanded into Jefferson County and Golden in March of 2002.

According to Kathryn Chaney, executive director of IHN of Greater Denver, IHN began in 1986 in Union County, N.J. and opened in Denver in 1997.

"It was created to provide shelter, meals and supportive services to families experiencing homelessness," Chaney said.

"Our program mobilizes local resources and uses existing space in area churches to provide shelter," Chaney said. "Host congregations participating in the network provide overnight lodging and meals for up to five families for a one-week period on a rotating basis, approximately four times a year."

IHN only accepts homeless families into the program.This can include a single parent with children and extended families with grandparents. Fifty-eight percent of the people served through IHN are children.

Area churches participate in a "rotation," with the familiesstaying at different locations each week.

Two host congregations in Golden include the Seventh-day Adventist Church at 3101 S. Golden Road, and Faith Lutheran Church at 17701 W. 16 th Ave.

The two churches are unique to IHN because they share shelter space at the Seventh-day Adventist gym. Usually, families in the program stay at an individual church for one week, but when they come to the Seventh-day Adventist church, they stay for a two-week period. Faith Lutheran Church hosts the first week and Seventh-day Adventist hosts the second week.

During a rotation, the gym is transformed for the guests. Makeshift rooms are set up for each family. A living room area, complete with couches and a TV are provided. A washer and dryer are also at the facility for the guests to use. Meals are usually served family style.

"A few years ago, the Lutheran Church Synod provided funds that were used to purchase materials to build an additional bathroom with a shower for the guests," said Betty Pelley, the primary IHN coordinator for Seventh-day Adventist. "The labor was provided free of charge by two of our Adventist members."

In addition to host churches, where the families are provided with shelter, there are also support congregations. The support congregations "help provide support to the host churches, by providing meals, for instance," Setzer said.

Many support congregations are part of a group of churches in Golden called the Golden Family of Churches Health Ministries. They include Calvary Episcopal, First Presbyterian, First United Methodist, Golden Valley Life, Hillside Community, Mesa View Evangelical Free and St. Joseph's Catholic. Faith Lutheran and Seventh-day Adventist are also part of the Golden Family of Churches. Another Golden Church, Jefferson Unitarian Church also plays a host role.

According to Setzer, the group of churches is not concerned about each other's denominations and difference in beliefs. "What binds us together is service to those in need."

Pelley said during her host week, six of the seven evening meals are provided by the Golden Family of Churches Health Ministries. It takes about 50 to 80 volunteers to host a week. " I would say, on average, I get around 20 volunteers for each rotation; but I could use double that. We're a very small church - around 70 active members," Pelley said.

Families can stay in the program, rotating from church to church for 90 days. According to Setzer, the average stay is 36 days. "The number-one goal of this program is to achieve self-sufficiency," Setzer said. "It's a process to get back on your feet. IHN is teaching people who to talk to, to learn what they need, where to go and even learn such things as how to use the bus system."

During the day, families are driven to a day site in Denver and meet with IHN staff. When families join the program, they are required to come up with a service plan and work on it during the day. "They use our computers and the Internet to search for employment, child care and housing. The guests meet with staff at the day site and we provide direct assistance, referrals, advocacy and support," Chaney said.

Another unique service families are provided with during their stay while at the Seventh-day Adventist is health-care attention. A dental hygienist and member of Faith Lutheran Church volunteers to clean the guests' teeth for free. The dentist she works for also examines teeth pro bono and makes recommendations.

Greg Hirons, a doctor and another member of Faith Lutheran Church will also volunteer his time to meet with the families. "He will take down health history, take blood pressure, listen to their hearts, help give advice and direction and answer any questions," Setzer said.

Chaney said she has seen many success stories come out of the program.

"Recently, a large family from the Jefferson rotation moved out into their own housing," Chaney said. "This family of six included a grandmother with her two teens, both of whom were successful in school and were accepted into educational programs of their choice. The grandmother secured employment as a dental technician earning agood salary. Her adult daughter was able to care for her 4-year-old, getting her into a children's activity program. She was very pregnant when she entered the program and had a baby while at another church in the west rotation."