Note from ED-Jun2023
A Note from the Executive Director
Josh Bytwerk; June 2023
One of the major challenges of 2023 is homelessness. We’d love to share how Love in Action is combatting this problem in our community. Our goal is to provide each person with a place of compassionate care in the same way Jesus cares for each of us.
1
We recognize we are living in a bit of a perfect storm. Rising housing costs, recently ended aid programs and the cost of food and gas have all come together to make this an unusually difficult time for many people in our community.
2
Each person experiencing homelessness comes from a unique situation. Stories are so important. Addiction, mental health challenges, and physical challenges are some we hear a great deal about. Relational breakups, domestic violence, and job loss are also big parts of many people’s situations. But if we stop and listen to each person, we hear a unique story where often one or more of these factors play out in unique ways. Solutions must fit stories and each one is different.
3
Homelessness is about more than shelter. We applaud ministries offering an overnight stay to those needing it. But homelessness occasions a sense of rejection, hurt, isolation, and overwhelming fear which can change a person profoundly. A night or more of shelter cannot hope to combat the deep wounds in each person. It takes more than merely a safe bed.
Our role at LIA is to create a community of belonging that combats these factors for several months at a time. We don’t want to merely be a place to avoid homelessness. We work to create a community that supports each person… that helps them to feel known and cared for. So many challenges are faced better when we are not on our own.
Hope House and Harbor Hall launched over 10 years ago and Providence Place was added in 2017. Creating connection, hope and opportunities for growth is a daily mission as these communities provide crucial help for our area’s housing crisis.
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