Homelessness Highlight Event at St. Francis in April 2012.

Homelessness Highlight Event at St. Francis in April 2012.  

Homeless Highlight Event at St. Francis, Ann Arbor

What can I, as an individual, do to help homeless people in our area?  What can we, as a congregation, do to help end homelessness in the area? 

These questions led about 80 people to attend a gathering at St. Francis of Assisi parish in Ann Arbor one evening in April.  Speakers represented five organizations:  The Delonis Center, Avalon Housing, Camp Take-Notice, the VA Homeless Program and the Washtenaw Housing Alliance.  They described their organization’s role in the community response to homelessness.  Most importantly, the speakers provided information on what volunteers could do to help their organizations.  Each of these organizations works with different segments of the homeless population; each has different volunteer needs.  The event was sponsored by the Peace and Justice Committee at St. Francis of Assisi.  Many in attendance were from St. Francis parish, but multiple different area congregations were represented, as well as groups such as Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice and the Sheriff’s Department.  The art work of Susan Clinthorne and Sally Theisen was displayed.  The pieces were part of their "Letters Home" exhibit, which is focused on “giving the homeless a voice”.

The five speakers provided a framework for the evening’s program, but some of the most interesting discussion occurred during the question and answer period that followed.  Individuals who live at Camp-Take-Notice and Avalon Housing commented on how those respective organizations have helped them.

At one point in the discussion, the issue of congregations committing to the support of one or more affordable housing units was raised.  Fr. Jim McDougal, pastor of St. Francis parish, who was in the audience, stated that St. Francis would make such a commitment.  This brought a round of applause from both the speakers and the audience.  It was noted that St. Francis, which already participates in multiple programs to help homeless individuals and other needy community members, is considered to be a model congregation.  Catholic Social Teaching is alive at St. Francis.

Those in the audience gained a better appreciation for what some community groups do in the fight against homelessness.  Individuals left with handouts detailing specific volunteer opportunities with the represented groups.  It was also noted that the Religious Action for Affordable Housing (RAAH) will hold its annual meeting in the very same location on June 21^st, from 6:30–8:30 pm.  This will be an open meeting and anyone wishing to participate is welcome to attend.  St. Francis has been a long-time supporter of this faith-based effort to bring more affordable housing to Washtenaw County.

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Attendees learned about the work of the Delonis Center (named after former St. Francis parishioner, Bob Delonis), a shelter in downtown Ann Arbor.  It has multiple programs for single adults without permanent housing.  In addition to providing a place to sleep, the Delonis Center provides job counseling and help with substance abuse and medical / mental illness issues.  Last year, over 1000 individuals were helped in both the in-home residence and day programs.  Ellen Schulmeister, executive director of the Delonis Center, told those in attendance that the Delonis Center has a variety of opportunities for volunteers.  Regardless, however, of what else a volunteer may do at the Delonis Center, simply being present so that a client has someone to talk to is about the most important thing a volunteer can provide. 

Avalon Housing is quite different from the Delonis Center.  The non-profit housing corporation owns and manages housing for low-income individuals.  Next to the city of Ann Arbor, itself, Avalon Housing is the largest provider of low-income housing in the area.  Over 200 units scattered throughout the Ann Arbor – Ypsilanti area are managed by Avalon.  Like the Delonis Center, Avalon Housing provides support for to its clients.  Speaker Carole McCabe noted that when an individual in Avalon Housing has some sort of difficulty, the goal is to work with that person so that he can remain housed – very different from the for-profit realty market.  There are numerous volunteer opportunities with Avalon Housing.  In addition to office and clerical jobs, volunteers can help with gardening projects, tenant transportation, property maintenance, mentoring and youth summer programs.  Individuals with legal and professional skills are also always in need. 

Camp-Take-Notice is a tent camp located just west of Ann Arbor.  The camp provides a place to reside for individuals who might otherwise be “sleeping under a bridge.”  The camp is run by campers themselves who make and enforce the rules.  Community involvement in the camp is headed by a group referred to as MISSION (Michigan Itinerant Shelter System-Interdependent Out of Necessity).    The two individuals who spoke on behalf of MISSION / Camp-Take-Notice indicated that tents, blankets, propane and city bus tokens were always in need.  Prepared meals – especially for Sunday evenings – were also welcome.  With the truncated Sunday evening bus schedule, it can be hard for people living in Camp-Take-Notice to stay down town long enough for dinner.  Advocacy is also important.  Legislation at the state level to make homeless gatherings such as Camp-Take-Notice illegal has been discussed.  Camp-Take-Notice has already moved twice in the past few years, looking for a stable place.  Where campers would go if the camp closed permanently was not addressed. 

Following this, Shawn Dowling spoke on behalf of the VA Homeless Project.  As is clear from the name, this is a Veterans Administration program to help homeless vets.  The program tries to reach veterans throughout the entire state and northern Ohio.  There are homeless veterans in every county, but in many places, such individuals tend to be “invisible.”  How does the VA Homeless Project help vets?  Shawn looked at the other speakers and said that they worked with all of the organizations already discussed.  Additionally, Shawn emphasized how the VA is going to the veterans thus proving more available in addressing needs versus the old way of expecting veterans to get to them.

The evening’s last formal speaker was Julie Steiner, representing the Washtenaw Housing Alliance.  This is an umbrella organization that works to coordinate the efforts of 27 county groups that work to provide housing for those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.  Providing a single telephone number that can connect at-risk individuals to all of the services provided by the different organizations and streamlining the grant application process for organizations seeking support for their activities are two of the ways in which the Washtenaw Housing Alliance works to combat homelessness in the area.