How Christian Faith-Based Organizations Can Help Homeless Shelters
Abstract
Spirituality affirms the essential self-worth, dignity and core health of a person’s well being; therefore, homeless shelters should incorporate spirituality, in order to benefit a person in the long term compared to the satisfaction of an immediate need. “Our national epidemic of intolerance for poor and homeless people is the consequence of America’s lack of spirituality, coupled with America’s love of materialism and society’s expense (3, martin).”
The number one book sold for over a decade, seizing to be a fad or a trend has been the Bible. In a study of New York prisoners, studies found that those who participated in a Prison Fellowship Bible Study were rearrested drastically less compared to the amount of prisoners those whom did not. Of those who took part in the Bible study, 14 percent were rearrested within one year, compared to those who choose to not participate was 41 percent. In a similar case, at a Texas prison, out of 80 prisoners who took part in the Prison Fellowship, a whopping five percent are back in prison. In a Public Health Service, which is strongly Christian oriented, done of Teen Challenge’s Drug treatment program, by a Northwestern University doctoral student, it was found that it was more effective with the participants than that of its counterparts. With these examples, it becomes credible that with faith-based programs long term results are received, which further exemplifies my position upon the integration of Christian faith into the homeless shelter environment.
While researching this issue, I came across President Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative. Bush wants federal funding to flow to religious organizations without pointless restrictions. In doing this, there will be departments created to tend to housing, urban development, labor, health and human services. In establishment of these positions, bush will oversea them as they work closely to fund the faith-based services. On a CNN interview with Eileen O’Connor (whom represented Bush) she stated, “They (faith-based services) have an effectiveness rate. In some cases, it is proven by studies that they can be more effective as with recidivism in drug treatment programs. President Bush says that if they are effective, why not turn them.”
Many critics have argued Bush’s stance in saying that it crosses the line drawn between church and state. O’Connell argued, “He (Bush) has appointed men of different faiths to head these programs up.
Since homeless people are not new to the United States we already have this stigma towards them along with drug users. One of the challenges that Bourgois and Schonberg have to face is practicing cultural relativism. As easy as it may be for them they must not pass judgment on the Edgewater Homeless because everything that they do is relative to the ...
Statistically, over 670,000 Americans are homeless with a growing number. 48 million people go to bed hungry every night. Although we do provide shelters and opportunities in America, millions of people are homeless worldwide. Even on a more minor level there are still hundreds homeless within hometowns. Everyday we encounter the homeless whether by seeing them holding their personal signs at stoplights, confronts with beggars, or viewing them from afar under bridges. In her essay titled “On Compassion”, writer Barbara Ascher uses rhetorical techniques detailing some of her personal homeless experiences within the city life, Asher does effectively use logos, pathos,
One subject that simply can not be ignored no matter where you find yourself in Anaheim. The homeless population in Anaheim is rapidly growing and there seems to be no end to this conundrum. Sadly, these poor individuals can be found anywhere some small amount of shelter is. Thus, you can constantly find them lingering around parks or on the sides of freeways waiting to beg the next passerby for enough money to make it through the day. In Anaheim they can usually found at the various parks we have around the city. The heart of a person is only so delicate to feel remorse or sadness whilst the less fortunate of society wanders within their eyes. But surprisingly enough when the time comes down to it you often hear the phrase,
Church-state relations in America has been widely discussed and hotly debated. One school of thought holds that the church should be absolutely separated from the state, while another holds that the church plays a moral role in state building and its sanctity, without which the state risks falling apart. In my discussion of the church-state relations, I state that the history of church-state relations has a Constitutional basis. Next, I discuss the two schools of thought in context and how they have shaped contemporary American political thought. Finally, I argue that the two schools of thought have a common ground. This is followed by a summary of my key arguments and a conclusion to my essay.
“Homelessness is a symptom of systemic poverty” (www.kansascity.com). Since 2012, the homeless rate has risen more than 7% in Kansas City, MO alone. According to a 2012 count survey by the homeless coalition services, roughly 2,434 unduplicated individuals were homeless in Kansas City. Of those 70% were sheltered and 30% were on the streets. Since reported on any given night here in the metro more than 3,000 adults and 7,500 kids are homeless in our area. We are not sure why the rate has risen so much over the years. “Maybe because the declining economy is almost certain for the external event most commonly said to make people homeless” (Shumoky, Neil Larry). Many people who are homeless are, victims of domestic violence, after deciding to leave an abusive relationship, they often have nowhere to go for those who have few resource. Also, Lack of money needed for housing and having to wait on a list for assisted housing means they have to chose between staying with an abuser or living on the street with their kids. People with HIV/AIDS, those people often get depressed and suicidal. The cost for medications and treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS get too high for people to keep up with. They also are at risk of losing their jobs because of discrimination or absences health-related. A few more are people with a mental illness and substance abusers. Also, Veterans, who once served in this country. They were also effected by the economic crisis that hit a few years ago. Many also dealing with PTSD, are unwilling to get the help needed because of the shame surrounding mental illness. So many turn to alcohol/drugs as an escape from the terrible and haunting memories of the war. Some of their families give up on them. Not being ...
What Jonathan Walters is so clearly observing is the need for men and women in all areas of life (education, government, psychology, medicine, etc) to become active in solving the issue….together. The church is undoubtedly filled with people of influence in all of the aforementioned areas and yet the church body is failing to obey fundamental Biblical commands that deal with social justice. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., famously once said "it is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning”…and while he was referring to racial segregation, his comment holds true in terms of classism and social segregation. If we are to ever see an end to homelessness, the Church must become proactive, missional and obedient to the teachings of Jesus.
Homelessness is not something that I could ever imagine completely. I, like everyone else, have a simple idea of what it would be like to be homeless. There is so much more to being homeless than most believe. My exposure to Habitat for Humanity is showing me some about the idea of living in a lower income family. This exposure is an experience that all high school and college students should have.
homelessness” (Belcher, J.R., & Deforge, B. R., 2012) . The institutions itself creates an avenue to have people
Looking at the environmental components in relation to the homeless and their mental health, this author found socioeconomic adversity, lack of health insurance and health care, lack of food, clothing, and shelter as the predominant variables. Zlotnick, Zerger, and Wolfe stated that “Limits on shelter stays during the daytime and competing needs to seek food and employment also in...
Today, if our government needs proof that the separation of Church and State works to secure the freedom of religion, they only need to look at the overabundance of Churches, temples, and shrines that exist in the cities and towns throughout the Untied States. Only a non-religious government, separated from religion could possibly allow such dissimilarity.
On an average night in our community, there are around 9,500 individuals and families without a place to stay, according to the State Research Group on Homelessness and Poverty (2009). Because of this fact, there is a desperate need for shelter and volunteers to serve at these shelters. There are only 1,995 emergency beds, which is not enough to accommodate all of the homeless, and there is an even smaller number of workers willing to volunteer. The Homeless Center offers beds and meals to the homeless, working poor, and unemployed. There is a need to do service learning at this location because volunteers are needed to serve as greeters, serve meals, conduct daily prayer time, lead worship, work with the Big "A" Club, fellowship with the attendees, prepare the newsletter, help with maintenance and repair projects, organize clothing rooms, and help with many other tasks The purpose of this study was to serve the people of downtown and lighten the load of work for the staff of the Homeless Center. This paper will address the purpose, research questions, literature review, findings, discussion, and implication of my service-learning project at the Hope Center.
2) The witness that the church seeks to give in helping in the search for
The Work Of Christian Aid “We Believe in Life Before Death.” This is Christian Aid’s Motto; Christian Aid is a charity, a company, and an aid to those in less developed countries than our own. It is one of many charitable based organisations that works on many projects set up to improve the lifestyles of the people in these country’s. Justice and compassion are principles, which Christian Aid has; they are closely linked to many Churches and other organisations run by Christians.
Homelessness is everywhere, it is not a new trend and is a growing problem. Many people ask themselves should I help the homeless or not; it is easier to just ignore the problem than to give a helping hand. Every person needs help at one point or another in their life and homeless people should be no different. Assisting the homeless with healthcare, housing, and childcare are ways people are able to and should help the homeless.
Professional social work originated within a ‘primarily faith-based ministerial outreach’ (Thyer & Myers, 2011, p.9) context, where religious salvation was premised upon. Howeve...