The "How" of ISN's Mission

We all seek guidance for not only what to do, but for how to do it.

Renowned author and speaker Simon Sinek has inspired thousands with a simple reminder, “Start with why.”

He writes, “Regardless of WHAT we do in our lives, our WHY—our driving purpose, cause or belief—never changes.”

The why of ISN is simple, we want the unhoused in San Diego to experience shelter, support, and a new beginning because we believe in the dignity and value of all.

I am convinced that this why, or a very similar version to it, inspired the original congregations to form the Rotational Shelter in 1986. Over time the “what” of ISN has evolved to address ever immediate needs and emerging resources. We express our "what" in our mission statement,

“to enable those we serve to move toward self-sufficiency by coordinating the efforts of participating congregations, social service agencies, and governmental programs in order to provide shelter and other resources to homeless individuals and families in the San Diego region.”

Proceeding from the “why” and the “what” is the “how.” The ISN board and staff have been discussing the values of ISN. The values communicate the manner in which we will live out our mission. The values are an expression of our “how.” As a part of this ongoing conversation we’ve explored various noble values in order to discern which handful best describes how ISN will achieve its goals. ISN stakeholders have discussed values such as:

Compassion – Respect – Teamwork – Stewardship – Empowerment – Service – Inclusive – Quality – Creativity – Thoughtfulness – Canny – Purposeful – Family – Leadership

As the values were discerned, three clear theme ideas emerged.

1. ISN believes in the inalienable dignity of all people regardless of their circumstances. Through our partnerships and the populations we serve, ISN connects with people of varied backgrounds and life situations. The inherent value of others inspires us to give our best. The thoughtfulness and quality of our work is a measure of our esteem for ourselves and others. The trust and respect ISN staff show one another builds a foundation for positive interactions and supports clients in their journeys toward self-empowerment.

2. Collaboration is at the core of ISN’s work. Our inclusive disposition nature invites partnership with all who seek to provide the unhoused with shelter and support that leads to self-sufficiency. Cultivating great relationships is key for implementing shelter solutions. With a “one team” perspective, we strive to empower our volunteers in their vital work of supplying shelter and support. We empower our program participants in their search for housing and a new beginning.

3. Every hour given, every donor donated, each meal prepared, and workshop offered is an investment. ISN believes the resources shared with and through our program are investments in our mission to enable homeless individuals and families to more toward self-sufficiency. ISN weaves together the investments of donors, collaborators, volunteers, and guests, in order to foster transformation and create a new beginning.

Distilling these three ideas into a single word is a work in progress. If you have ideas about how ISN shows up in the world, or about how we can summarize these ideas with a simple word please send me a message at bduran@interfaithshelter.org!