Interfaith Shelter Network
The Interfaith Shelter Network (ISN) involves county-wide church congregations of all denominations in a rotational shelter program. Providing long-term temporary housing for employed and employable single adults who remain clean and sober, ISN guests are sent to congregations in the Network after being screened by an area social service agency. Once approved to enter the INS program, guests must be willing to work closely with the referring social service agency to resolve the problems leading to their homelessness. This program supports the whole person by helping participants regain financial independence and save money, develop job-finding skills, and provides opportunities for vital emotional and spiritual development.
Congregations host the program for two to three weeks at a time, usually once or twice a year. The hosting congregation provides shelter, meals, and spiritual support, and further benefits by becoming acquainted with their homeless guests and their individual life stories. Less than twelve guests at a time generally stay, and at the end of two weeks, the whole operation – cots and all – will rotate to another area church.
Brea Congregational UCC is proud of our 18 year association with the Interfaith Shelter Network. Through our regular hosting commitment, our members have come to meet, know and understand many remarkable adults who have used this unique program to get their lives back on track.
Homelessness
". . . I was a stranger and you welcomed me..." Matthew 25:35
Who is the stranger in our society? Often times the stranger is the man, woman or family who has no place to live. Where is the hospitality and compassion for those who are homeless in our society?
Housing is a basic need for every person; however, this fundamental necessity has become so costly that we have a large number of people who are homeless in our society. Homelessness not only affects the unemployed, but the employed as well. It results from complex circumstances whereby people find it necessary to choose between food, shelter, and other basic needs. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources cover only some of these necessities. Often it is housing, which would otherwise consume a high proportion of income. Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 15-20 years: a growing shortage of affordable housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty.
The United Church of Christ General Synod has consistently called upon member churches and individual members "to become actively involved in ministries to homeless people and to support efforts to advocate for federal, state, and local action in regards to homelessness." (GS XIV)
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