Beacon Housing Update

In a continuing effort to keep the congregation informed on the issue of affordable housing, the Oak Knoll Beacon Housing Committee likes to share relevant housing articles, information and events. 

Relationships Sustain Hope for a Better Future: A reflection from Rev. Emily Goldthwaite, Director of Congregational Organizing 

We are living in a time of significant tension. It feels on a nearly daily basis that our deepest, shared values of inclusion and abundance are offended by an act of violence, cowardice, or division. Even some of our own sanctuaries have not felt safe from real attacks. We are facing the challenge of working toward a Minnesota where all people have a home while the federal government moves toward criminalizing homelessness and dismantling programs that are proven to be effective solutions. 

I know we are all absorbing this news day by day –– but it needs to be named because this is not normal and should not become normal. We are resisting the attacks on affordable and supportive housing through our policy work, such as our recent work to fight back against enormous cuts to HUD’s Continuum of Care program.

It’s tempting to get stuck in despair. We so easily get drawn into conversations or social media interactions that reinforce our loss of hope and fear for the future. But the great gift of faith communities in a time of social change like this is that we focus on relationships and take a long view. We do not give up on people.

For more information about Beacon Housing, visit beaconinterfaith.org.