By Shauna Scott Rhone
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Three families were featured in a Dec. 27 story on the Interfaith Hospitality Network, a group of congregations that helps people with nowhere to stay. One family, the Kornegays, was still waiting for a home and a fresh start to the new year.

Happily, the Kornegays recently found an apartment and moved out of the program this month. Their new address is right down the street from the network's offices in Lower Price Hill.

In November, a housing violation had forced the family from their rent-controlled apartment.

"We wanted to keep the kids in Oyler Elementary," says mom Christine. Oyler allows children in the network to continue their education while their parents look for work and a new home. The Kornegays also wanted to stay close to the center to volunteer there.

"We've met a lot of good people," Mrs. Kornegay says. "Overall, it's been a good experience."

Mrs. Kornegay has progressed from part time to full time with her new employer. Her husband, Donald, had successful surgery last week to repair an ankle badly injured on his previous job.

The network locations in Lower Price Hill and Newport both received community feedback after the story ran.

"A number of churches called to express their interest in joining the program, as either a host or participating congregation," says case manager Eve Bolton Beasley.

She invited callers to attend a network coordinators meeting held last week to sign up. Two congregations joined the network: First Unitarian Church of Avondale and New Beginning Covenant Church in Springdale. Two other churches are considering signing up: St. Agnes Church of Bond Hill and Zion Baptist Church in Woodlawn.

"We heard from a number of individuals who wanted to volunteer," says Juwanna Spencer, executive director of Northern Kentucky's network in Newport. "A stay-at-home mom, who had some extra time now that her children are all in school, will come in part time to help."

Ms. Spencer says the center received money and other donations. Several of the current members called to voice their appreciation for a story on the problems these families face."

She also got five phone calls for families looking for shelter, including one family with a

5-week-old child whose house had been condemned.

One congregation listed among others in the story is not a church but a temple. Isaac M. Wise Temple in Amberley Village is the only non-Christian house of worship in the network. Robert Moore, the Price Hill center's executive director, says more congregations are welcome to join.

E-mail srhone@enqurier.com.

Contact the Interfaith Hospitality Network at (513) 471-1100 (Greater Cincinnati) or (859) 431-6840 (Northern Kentucky).