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Homeless in 2018 According to a report from the Office of Housing and Urban Development, more than half a million people were living on the streets, in cars, in homeless shelters, or in subsidized transitional housing during a one-night national survey in January, 2017, up 1% from 2016. Those without any shelter increased 9%. According to HUD, 1/3 of the homeless population in 2017 were families. Onefifth, or 114,829 people, were children under the age of 18. Between 2016 and 2017, the number of children experiencing homelessness decreased by 5,990 (5%). More than 90% of homeless families were sheltered, leaving 16,938 people in families unsheltered.
By Brett Hamilton, chair of SEARCH’s Council of Congregtions and member of St. John the Divine, Houston The Lord has put homeless people on my heart for a long time. For one reason, I think that healthy growing communities, like Houston, should be able to provide some sort of shelter for people who truly need it and cannot afford it. Many years ago, I began volunteering at SEARCH Homeless Services. SEARCH is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people who are homeless move from the streets into jobs and safe, stable housing and break free from the cycle of poverty and homelessness. I represent St. John the Divine on SEARCH’s Council of
Congregations, a multi-faith group of congregations that provide spiritual support and volunteer and financial resources to SEARCH and the individuals that SEARCH serves. I also work with homeless youth. I learn a lot about each person that I help them with the required forms to access services. After a while, I mustered the courage to ask if I could pray for something in particular for them. Most people have prayer requests, and many undergo a relaxing and softening transformation just because I am willing to ask. I have met young adults the age of my children who, for whatever reason, have ended up homeless. I have met people who lost their jobs or suffered a setback that put into motion events that eventually left them homeless.
Shannon Worthington worked with Have Shears will Travel to bring haircuts to men and women in shelters and social service agencies and to those who live on the street, helping to restore the dignity of every human being. These experiences remind me how vulnerable we all are, and how blessed I am to have a family and friends to support me. I am more aware and conscious of people’s difficulties. Raising awareness and getting people engaged is one reason that SEARCH and the Council of Congregations invite faith communities to observe World Homeless Day by committing to “do one thing” the weekend of October 12-14 to address homelessness in our midst. Details and ideas are included on the back of this insert.
October, 2018
Working in concert, people of faith can shine a light on homelessness. Your faith community can: • Take a special offering to donate to agencies working with people experiencing homelessness • Collect goods to donate to homeless services agencies https://www.searchhomeless.org/wish-list-of-essential-items/ • Make “survival kits” to keep in your car to hand out to people on the street https://www.searchhomeless.org/survival-kits-for-ourhomeless-neighbors/ • Offer a specific prayer during worship services • Feature a speaker on homelessness from a local agency • Print and distribute an updated “Facts & Figures” brochure on homelessness in Houston https://tinyurl.com/houstonhomeless • Commit to volunteer at a homeless services agency In Houston: SEARCH will provide information, materials and ideas to help facilitate this process. Email
[email protected] In Austin: Find out more about Trinity Center and how you can help at http://trinitycenteraustin.org/ In Longview: Learn what groups are doing for their area homeless population at https://tinyurl.com/homelessNETx In Tyler: Christ Church and Christ Church South work with Loaves and Fishes and PATH (People Attempting to Help) to assist their homeless neighbors
Throughout the Diocese of Texas, our churches are responding to the needs of their neighbors. Please join others this October to raise awareness of the homelessness in your community and take steps to help.
Will you seek to serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
Barbara Goodson (l) cuts a client’s hair at St. Josheph’s House, Houston, while others wait their turn for a new “do.” St. Joseph House helps individuals, regardless of their circumstances, live and work well, and with purpose. Goodson provides salon services at many homeless shelters and other Greater Houston social service locations. This summer, Irit Umani, executive director for Trinity Place, a homeless ministry of St. David’s, Austin, recorded this interview during General Convention. Umani spoke of the “army of Episcopal volunteers” from Austin area churches and spoke eloquently about the embodiment of the Gospel to care for one another. See it here: http://trinitycenteraustin.org/our-executive-director-at-the-general-convention/ Barbara Goodson returned to her passion for cutting hair when she was laid off from the oil industry. She founded a ministry called Have Shears Will Travel and visits shelters in the Greater Houston area to bring dignity and a positive self-image back to many homeless and underserved people. See her story on Good Day Houston here: https://tinyurl.com/haveshearswilltravel or learn more here: https://www.haveshearswilltravel.org/
