ECM's Luncheon Forum - A Success!
Luncheon Forum "Share Learn and Celebrate" - A Success!
On Saturday May 9th Episcopal City Mission (ECM) hosted a luncheon forum, “Share, Learn and Celebrate,” at All Saints Church in Worcester, MA. The goal of the event was to celebrate the incredible work being done across the state by Episcopalians to alleviate and end homelessness. The event was also a time for folks to share how they are engaged in this work and learn from each other how to deepen and expand their involvement in this movement.
Representative Bryon Rushing keynoted the luncheon and spoke to the group about the realities facing the state with the current economic climate. He drove home the fact that now, more than ever, the faith community needs to play a significant role in providing housing and services to those in need. He stated that the faith community can and will play a role in the solution to this crisis, that we need to focus on housing and long term solutions to this crisis. He referred to the state’s Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness (ICHH) and the work that this council has set out to do. To learn more about the ICHH visit: www.mass.gov/governor/ichh
Panelists from congregations across the state shared how their congregations are working on this issue in their cities, towns and regions. Speakers represented churches and their communities from Western Massachusetts, Greater Worcester, Boston, the South Shore and Cape Cod. They talked about building housing for low income families, raising money for homeless prevention programs, providing shelter in their building for the overflow from a nearby city and financially supporting a “housing first” shelter for homeless men who have been living on the street for many years.
Every speaker shared that the experience of working with the homeless has been both educational and inspiring and that an integral piece to the success of this work has been the involvement of the larger community both within their congregation and the wider town/city beyond just their parish.
ECM was glad to host an event in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts and hopes that this is just the beginning of a statewide collaborative effort in this work. To learn more about how your congregation can engage in the work to end homelessness in Massachusetts please call: Katie Campbell Simons at 617-482-4826 ext 224 or email kcsimons@diomass.org
Posted by Lucena Daley on Thursday, July 09, 2009