Mission: To support our neighbors in need by providing vital services and a pathway to greater stability.
Interfaith Works (IW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides emergency shelter, supportive housing, essential needs, and employment programs to over 35,000 residents of Montgomery County, MD, every year. IW was founded in 1972 by local faith communities who saw Montgomery County residents in need and felt collaborative action was the best way to help them. Today, Interfaith Works is not a religious organization, but we maintain our original spirit of striving to provide Montgomery County residents in need with the best possible assistance through our various programs. The year 2022 marked IW’s 50th year serving Montgomery County. Over the last half-century, we have gained insight into how we can best carry out our mission and we have redefined our approach to pursuing this mission. Going forward, we plan to reaffirm all programs and practices around IW’s Core Values and further prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in all IW practices.
Results: With the help of 7,000 volunteers, Interfaith Works programs provide direct social services to nearly 35,000 neighbors in need annually.
Target demographics: single adults and families
Direct beneficiaries per year: Interfaith Works' programs serve nearly 35,000 individuals every year.
Geographic areas served: Montgomery County, MD
Programs: IW Food Pantry at The Essential Needs Center
IW Clothing Center at The Essential Needs Center
IW Connections at The Essential Needs Center
IW Vocational Services Program
IW Women's Shelters
IW New Leaf Shelter
IW Shared supportive Housing (Priscilla's, Becky's, and Lon's House)
IW Community Supportive Housing
IW Rapid Rehousing
IW Shelter at Progress Place
IW Residences at Progress Place
IW Drop-in Center at Progress Place
The receptionist is very rude she will let Hispanic people do whatever they want but to other people she will follow you and tell you that it’s against the rules please when you are working the policy it’s for everyone one of my friends why crying cause she told her that she doesn’t need to take all those stuffs cause she was homelessness they need to train her how to talk to other people
I first found out about Interfaith Works from a family member back in summer 2011. They told me that it was a place to help low in come family's with clothes, house hold stuff. So I took a chance and went. At first I only used the clothing center, but mid fall 2011, I went in to "shop" and my husband got to talking to a employee, Debbie, and after I was done, I met with Debbie. During this time we were down on our luck, and didn't know were to go. So My husband and I talked with Debbie for about a hour. We talked about everything, from family, money, kids, jobs, and even life it's self. We were able to get some help with some of the financial problems we were having. We didn't just get the help, we also made a great friend too. Over the past 6 months we have been able to return the favor of making donations back to the interfaith works clothing center as well as being able to know that WE are not alone in this. WE DIDN'T WANT A HAND OUT, WE WANTED A HAND UP! That is what we found.
