The streets are not safe for homeless individuals in general, but older people (especially those with disabilities) are particularly vulnerable.  Developed by United Methodists, the Justa Center is a day resource center in Phoenix, AZ
for individuals over the age of 55 who have nowhere to live. The Center is a caring place where homeless seniors - called "members" - can receive necessary services in a safe environment from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., every day.

Justa Center staff members work with individuals to locate earned benefits, obtain housing and medical assistance. They also provide referrals to other services in the community. The Center acts as a safety net for people who have few resources and even fewer friends and family members on whom they can count for help.
An integral part of this safety net involves helping members address the problems that have caused their homelessness such as catastrophic medical issues, job loss, substance abuse, and/or mental health issues. Medical issues include stroke, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic lung disease, and Lou Gehrig's disease. Each individual has a unique set of circumstances, so Center staff members create a personalized plan for each person who seeks help.
On a given day, more than 125 homeless seniors may use the Center. As a resource center, Justa Center caters to their immediate needs, e.g. access to identification papers, banking, Social Security benefits, health care, unemployment insurance, food stamps, veterans benefits, and more. An on-staff nurse and counselor work with those who have on-going physical and mental health issues.
To empower participants, the Center's services are designed based on member input. Justa Center provides such amenities as showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, computers and Internet access, lockers, coffee, books, and TV. Also in response to requests from clients the Center offers weekly church services, Bible study, morning prayer, and faith-sharing opportunities.
Since opening in 2006, the Center has helped approximately one person escape homelessness each day. Justa Center provides each person who moves into independent living with a bed, a couch, and a move-in kit that contains necessities such as pots, pans, and dishes. Once members move out, the safety net continues, as staff visit periodically to ensure they are doing well on their own.
The Justa Center is a remarkable place where lives are transformed daily. Local United Methodist congregations and United Methodist Women units provide volunteers, material goods such as laundry soap and homemade hats, and financial support, as the center operates solely on private donations and gifts. The center is supported by the Desert Southwest Annual Conference.  For more information, see the Justa Center website.
 

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Ministries with homeless people range from churches helping one family at a time to conference-wide initiatives.  Lake Oswego UMC (Oregon-Idaho AC) is a suburban church that realizes that homelessness exists even in affluent communities.  They are part of Lake Oswego Transitional Shelter Ministry, a coalition of churches that partners with area social services agencies to assist single mothers who are trying to find stability.  When the church built a new fellowship hall, they decided to add a furnished transitional apartment in the basement. The apartment has a separate entrance and is fully ADA compliant.  One or two families reside in the apartment while seeking permanent housing, receiving support from both trained church volunteers and local agencies. 
The North Georgia United Methodist Housing and Homeless Council takes a broad approach.  The conference takes an annual Homeless Offering for programs, with endowment funds covering overhead.  Council members visit grants applicants.  The Council provides up to 75 grants a year for shelter and transitional housing, home ownership and affordable housing programs, and services such as job training, food, rent and utility assistance, and health care for poor and homeless persons.  In addition the Council advises churches on starting new programs and provides advocacy and awareness through a speakers' bureau and video presentations.
The Rev. Virginia Tinsley is the director of the Housing and Homeless Council.  She finds that most chronically homeless people have multiple disabilities, with mental illness and addictions the most common.  Many states including Georgia shut down large mental hospitals but didn't offer resources to support community living for those discharged.  The current economy has affected people's ability to find jobs, and the housing crisis has pushed others into homelessness.
Virginia pointed out one model that works in both rural and urban areas. The Interfaith Hospitality Network (also called Family Promise) provides screened families with a room and meals in a different church each week along with help finding housing and other services.  Churches can support having transitional housing throughout their city and not just in specific neighborhoods.  She recommends having a designated member of the congregation who can sit with and companion worshipers who show signs of active mental illness.  She advises members to not dismiss people who beg by giving them cash, but to try to address deeper needs. Be ready to offer prayer when persons ask for this, as those requests are sincere.
While it could be easy to become discouraged facing a growing need and diminishing resources, Virginia finds hope in the deep faith of many persons she encounters.  Her mission is to get church people involved with people on the fringes and help set up mutually beneficial ministries.  She reminds us that even in seemingly hopeless situations the church can offer the means of grace and represent God's power to people. 
 

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West Ohio AC  

Autism 101 Training                                                           

Saturday, October 15th, 9:00am to 12:00pm                       Trinity UMC, Columbus, OH

OR Saturday October 22nd, 9:00am to 12:00pm                Epworth UMC, Ottawa Hills, OH

Autism 101 and Down Syndrome 101 Training

Saturday, October 22nd, 9am to 4pm              Hyde Park Community UMC, Cincinnati, OH

These workshops will provide information on characteristics of persons with autism spectrum disorders (and Down Syndrome in the full day course) as well as interventions, resources, and strategies to assist your church in ministry and programming.  The training will help you provide a safe and welcoming place, and to find effective ways to walk with these individuals and their families on their faith journeys.

Go to the West Ohio Annual Conference web site, click on "Register for Events", and create an account to log in and register.

For more information contact Rev. David Hoffman.

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