From Don Fornoff, Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness:
As I look back over my notes on homelessness from the past 6-8 years, I see that the more things change, the more they stay the same. About homelessness, that is certainly a tired truth. The more that is done, the more we need to do. Yet, if ever there was a local, regional, and national issue (it all looks the same on every level, in every situation) that requires support by people of faith, this is it. Why? As God’s people, taught by Jesus to connect with the poor, we must never give up. Governmental entities can only do so much and can only spend so much. That leaves the largest and greatest non-governmental entity, the faith community. That is why I call on our beloved diocesan members to use your leadership skills to pull together ecumenical organizations to work as one to alleviate and maybe solve homelessness. This means, in your town and county, perhaps inspiring others in the state and nation to make the care of the unhoused possible and restore them to fully functioning members of society.
A great example of faith community collaboration resides within the FACETS program in Fairfax County, Virginia. It began 35 years ago with Linda Wimpy, who asked friends in other churches to join her in supporting the county’s hypothermia program. She knew the program could not exist without the complete coverage by the faith community. Facets now exists in 3 parts with emergency services/basic needs, stabilization services, and transformational services. The faith community is 160-180 organizations strong. That is what it takes to support the governmental effort.
Closer to home, Sound Foundations perseveres to build tiny homes, knowing that despite the criticisms, tiny homes are filling a transitional need. It is the link to permanent housing found within the tiny house villages operated by support service organizations. It is also Housing Hope in Snohomish County. It is Low Income Housing Institute primarily in King County. It is also the feeding programs, gathering of basic needs, and heartfelt outreach that tie together all day-to-day efforts.
There continues to be a need for ecumenical alliance. This takes communication between many common and disparate entities. Here is a guide to doing that:
- Build or strengthen networks: informed to formal, impermanent to permanent, focused to broad, diverse, linkages, dynamic.
- Best practices: build goodwill; develop expertise; efficient communication; realistic purpose; adaptable; intended outcomes; shared decision making.
- Other: community forums about homelessness, collaborative church (faith) support, single driver; elected officials get behind the issue and actions.*
*adapted from notes of the USICH.
God, guide us to be just, kind, and humble
Don Fornoff
Member Bishop’s Taskforce on Homelessness
