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Greetings!
Professor Tim Iglesias of the University of San Francisco's School of Law has written an article especially for this newsletter. He led a workshop at the Social Justice Forum that was held at Holy Names University in February. That workshop emphasized that decent, safe and affordable housing is a fundamental building block for the lives of individuals, families and communities. Professor Iglesias pointed out that housing provides access to schools, jobs, recreation, shopping, and community life. Today's article describes the special role faith communities have played in helping to meet housing needs, in particular by providing housing and shelter for homeless people and assisting in the development of rental and homeownership opportunities for families.
As always, comments about the newsletter are welcome:
socialjustice@catholicsofpleasanton.org.
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Faith-Based Participation in Housing: A Perspective
By Tim Iglesias, Professor of Law, University of San Francisco School of Law. (a former Jesuit of the California Province of the Society of Jesus who has worked in and studies affordable housing development.)
Sometimes it's useful to get perspective on one's work. Perspective can re-energize, encourage critical reflection, and aid strategic planning. Studies of similar work over time and in other places provide one source of perspective. A study sponsored by the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University published "Faith-Based Participation in Housing: A Literature Review (2005) (available at: http://www.innovations.harvard.edu/showdoc.html?id=10625)
offers an excellent opportunity for groups involved in affordable housing issues. The objective of this study was to shed light on the roles and impacts of faith-based organizations on America's chronic affordable housing deficit. The article analyzed 65 empirical studies about faith-based housing work. In this article I will summarize some of the study's findings and share some reflections on the study.
Read on |
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Upcoming Event
Thursday, June 7, 7:00 P.M.
Social Justice Committee meeting
"Cry room" St. Elizabeth Seton Church
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Brief Links
Interview with Executive Director of the California Catholic Conference regarding death penalty campaign, interview |
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Action Alert
Tell your Senators that our nation needs to feed the hungry, preserve God's creation, support small family farmers, and help rural America thrive.
During the Memorial Day recess take the opportunity to visit, call, or write your Senators and urge them to support a Farm Bill that will help feed hungry people here at home and abroad, support growth in U.S. rural communities and promote stewardship of God's creation. The Senate will vote soon on its version of 2012 Farm Bill and their decisions will impact the lives of hungry people at home and abroad and the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world. Read on |
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Ballot Measures
The April 26 issue of this newsletter announced that the SAFE California initiative to end the use of the death penalty would appear on the November ballot, see initiative. At the end of an interview that dealt primarily with the death penalty initiative Ned Dolejsi, the Executive Director of the California Catholic Conference, said, "There are other pro-life issues on the ballot: the amendment of the "three strikes" initiative to apply only to violent or serious felonies; and the sex slavery/human trafficking issue. The general election will be a unique moment for California Catholics to exercise responsible and faithful citizenship." For the complete interview see interview.
As of May 23 the amendment of the "three strikes" initiative was pending signature verification, and the initiative on human trafficking (as well as the SAFE California initiative) had been qualified to appear on the November ballot.
Information about the status of initiatives and referenda to be qualified to become ballot measures in either June or November is available from the California Secretary of State, see election.
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