Creating the Political Will
to End Homelessness
ANNUAL CONFERENCES:

I    2001, April 28  Creating the Political Will to End Homelessness;  Held at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle;  350 Attendees; Moderated by Rev. David Bloom

II    2002, June 2  Taking Action!

Held at First United Methodist Church, Seattle;  200 Attendees; keynotes by Rev. Rich Lang and Rabbi Beth Singer

III   2003, November 12   Beyond the Revolving Door; Held at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle; 225 Attendees; Keynote by The Rev. Killian Noe

IV   2004, September 30   A Denial of Human Rights; In partnership with the Seattle Human Rights Commission, held at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle;

200 Attendees; Keynote by Dr. Bill Grace

V     2005, October 1   Affirming Charity, Compassion, and Justice;

Held at First United Methodist Church, Bellevue; 150 attendees; Keynote by Rep. Mark Miloscia

VI   2006, June 10   Making the Ten Year Plan REAL; In partnership with the Church Council of Greater Seattle, held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Seattle; 200 attendees; Keynotes by Mike Lowry (with help by Ron Sims)

VII   2007, September 18    The Ten Year Plan’s Regional Reality;  Held at Grace Lutheran Church, Des Moines;

150 attendees; Keynote by Joe Martin

VIII   2008, October 11   Equity and Social Justice;  Held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Mercer Island; 130 attendees; Keynote by Ron Sims

IX    2009, October 21   Stand By Me

Held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Bellevue; 125 attendees; Keynote by Laura Clark

X.    2010, September 15  5 Years,…Are We on Target?; Held at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle; 250 attendees; Keynotes by Rev. David Bloom and Richard LeMieux

XI.  2011, October 19  Light One Candle

Held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Bellevue;  75 attendees; Keynote by The Rev. Craig Rennebohm                 

Ending Homelessness
A Statement of Commitment
September 15, 2010

Today, we commit our faith raditions to addressing the crime of homelessness, not only in a one-day conference, not only in a ten-year plan, but from now on, and until homelessness is ended.

Homelessness is an emergency in our community.  Unfortunately, we who are fortunate enough to be housed have grown used to this emergency and numb to its impact on thousands of men, women, and children.  We have yet to fully demonstrate the moral vision and political will to assure that those who are already homeless in our midst receive the kind of care and compassion that we would unquestionably provide to those who might lose their homes due to an act of nature, such as an earthquake or a flood. 

The practice of hospitality – by various names -- is at the core of our faith traditions.  Each holy book that guides us is replete with admonitions to welcome the stranger in our midst.  Faith communities in our region have invited the poor and the homeless to sit at their tables and sleep under their roofs.  They have created emergency shelter, transitional housing, low-income housing, meal programs, financial assistance programs, and a wide range of other services.  But faith communities can’t do it all.  Their ameliorative efforts, while important and necessary, do not address the underlying structural causes of homelessness.  Until we do that as a total community homelessness will continue to be with us.

By this Statement of Commitment, we acknowledge that both the faith community and the community at large must do more, because we believe that the work of ending homelessness is a responsibility we share in common.  We stand together today to say the following:

1.  We will continue to support the intent of the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in King County, as well as other Ten-Year Plan efforts in Washington State.

2.  We commit to collaborate in bringing the resources of our faith communities to help end homelessness, both in terms of meeting immediate need and in terms of advocating for public policies and budgets that place a priority on ending homelessness.

3.  We challenge all our congregations to open their doors to those in need of emergency shelter beginning this very night.

4.  We will apply the ideas of this conference and others to help refocus, renew, and restore our common commitment as citizens to bring into reality a roof over every bed.

We all know what is needed.  First, we must provide a safe place to sleep for all who are already homeless.  Second, we must assure that adequate funding, policies and programs are in place that help people at immediate risk of homelessness.  Third, we must work for policies that will prevent homelessness: a living wage, affordable housing for all, support services, and treatment for all who face physical and mental challenges. 

The commandment that we love our neighbor exists in every living faith because the wisdom of our traditions understands what is required for human societies to prosper.   If we don’t fulfill our responsibility to each other, the hope of this great nation will collapse under the weight of injustice.  Let us each work toward a community in which the dignity of each person is the central social, political, and spiritual fact of our common life together.