The Bishop’s Taskforce on Homelessness is a group of dedicated lay and ordained people tasked with finding best practices to address homelessness and the crisis confronting all of us in the diocese. We build a knowledge base of resources and document ministries that work to help those who are unhoused so those methods can be duplicated throughout the diocese.
Visit the Taskforce website: Sheltering Unhoused Neighbors in Western Washington, which highlights the voices of the unsheltered in our communities and provides even more resources for advocacy and action to relieve the suffering of our fellow citizens.
Here are some resources and best practices to support the work you are doing — or planning to do — in your congregation:
RESOURCES:
- Overview of Homelessness – Information related to Homelessness locally, the state of Washington, and across the nation. ALICE – a report on those living in poverty and how they are affected by the lack of affordable housing. Also included is a study on the economics of homelessness and a prayer for the homeless.
- Convention Workshops – Copies of the information presented at workshops on how parishes can minister to the un-housed and on affordable housing, as well as the taskforce report to convention.
- General Guidance Ministering to the Unhoused – Information related to ministering to those who are unhoused, do’s and don’ts, examples of how others are doing this and information on refuting the NIMBY response.
- Affordable Housing – Information related to those in need of affordable housing, the process of developing affordable housing, how affordable housing is funded and points of contact for partnering to develop affordable housing in western Washington
BEST PRACTICES:
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- Feeding – Information for parishes who wish to establish a feeding program for those who are in need. Information regarding how to launch and sustain a program is provided with links to information on the web that can assist parishes in this effort.
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- Daily Matters – Suggestions and guidance to parishes who can assist those who are un-housed with the means to get mail, shower, and wash their clothes.
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- Temporary Housing
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- Temporary Encampments – Parishes which have space and funds to provide for temporary tent city type encampments will find information here on how to proceed within their community in order to do so.
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TEMPORARY ENCAMPMENT RESOURCES
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- Safe Parking – Information on how parishes can provide space for safe parking for those who are unhoused.
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- Tiny Villages – Information on tiny villages, what they are, what is needed to provide them, and information and links to resources to assist parishes in seeking partners to provide them.
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- Emergency Shelter – This folder describes what constitutes an emergency shelter for those who are un-housed, the process for parishes to establishing one and information concerning their operation and interaction within the community.
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- Pallet Shelter – A Public Benefit Corporation working to end unsheltered homelessness and to give people a fair chance at employment. Their transitional shelter villages help bridge the gap from living on the street to finding permanent housing.
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IT’S THE LAW!
Washington State Law says: “A religious organization may host the homeless on property owned or controlled by the religious organization whether within buildings located on the property or elsewhere on the property outside of buildings.”
Furthermore, a city “may not enact an ordinance or regulation or take any other action that imposes conditions other than those necessary to protect public health and safety and that do not substantially burden the decisions or actions of a religious organization regarding the location of housing or shelter, such as an outdoor encampment, indoor overnight shelter, temporary small house on-site, or vehicle resident safe parking, for homeless persons on property owned or controlled by the religious organization; Read the complete law here or download the PDF.
JOIN US!
Interested in learning more about the Bishop’s Taskforce on Homelessness? The Taskforce generally meets on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 9 – noon, via Zoom. Contact Jean Swift, Secretary of the Taskforce for the link. All who are committed to this work are welcome!
In loving memory of the Rev. Deacon Jeffrey Boyce, Missioner for Homeless Ministries and former chair of the Taskforce.
