Moment for Mission Archive

38,000.

That’s the number of people who sleep in the city shelters each night: over 16,000 children, 13,000 adults in families, and 9,000 single adults. That number does not include homeless people who sleep outside of the shelters, nor does it indicate the total number of people who will experience homelessness this year. It does not include the many men, women, and children who live precariously, only one paycheck or one misfortune away from losing their homes.

That number came up often on Thursday and Friday, May 14 and 15, as representatives from many faiths gathered together to worship, pray, and protest (politely) the lack of affordable housing in New York City at the 20th Annual Convocation on Homelessness and Housing, called “Building the Blessed City Together.” Sponsored by the Interfaith Assembly of the Homeless, participants also had constructive suggestions for ending homelessness and built a small “house” in City Hall Park to illustrate the Assembly’s public policy platform. One wall of the house was made of panels listing ways to increase permanent housing; a second wall listed policies needed to prevent homelessness; a third wall illustrated the need for human rights, emergency and support services; and the fourth wall showed ways to provide employment and income support. On top of the house were beautiful glass tiles representing each member of the Interfaith Assembly—including Rutgers Church. Along with our glass tile, Byron Shafer, Suzanne Spears, Laura Jervis, DeYan Jervis McCarthy, Lynne Morris, Gladys Morris, and Cheryl Pyrch represented Rutgers at the convocation. It was an informative and spiritual experience.

Now that the convocation is over, what is Rutgers doing, and what can you do?

• Volunteer in our shelter or cook at our Thursday dinner program. The shelter is one of those emergency and support services—the third wall—needed so desperately by people struggling out of homelessness. It’s not hard, and we can find you a partner! Please speak to Jeremiah Rosario (Moderator of the Board of Deacons) or Dermonte Alleyne (Shelter Coordinator). On Thursday evenings, we offer dinner and a movie to our neighbors, some who are without homes. Talk to Ulla Farmer for details.
• Give generously to Broadway Community. Money or food that you put in the large baskets during the offering provides food for those in need, many of whom are homeless.
• Learn more about our benevolence (mission) commitments. In addition to belonging to the Assembly, Rutgers has committed $30,000 over three years to the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren project, an apartment building being developed specifically for these important (and vulnerable) families. Presbyterian Senior Services is spearheading that project—Dave Taylor is the Executive Director of PSS. We are also a founding organization and continued supporter of the Michalski Residence for people with AIDS, run by the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing. Laura Jervis can tell you more.
• Write a letter to your city councilperson or the mayor supporting one of the Public Policy Priorities suggested by the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing.
• Come to a Peace & Social Justice Network meeting and help think of creative ways we can work to end homelessness. We meet on the second Sunday of most months, after church. Pizza provided.