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Winter Relief
Since 1992, a growing number of Anne Arundel County churches and synagogues have cooperatively provided shelter for the homeless as part of the Winter Relief Program administered by the Arundel House of Hope. St. Margaret's has participated in this coalition of 70 churches and synagogues for the past four years, with as many as 140 parishioners involved each year. Several of our homeless guests have found shelter, employment, and a renewed sense of hope and self-esteem through the efforts of so many of our parishioners.
Bringing Shelter to the Underserved
The 70-church Arundel House of Hope coalition has now extended its partnership in a more substantive way to help individuals and families obtain more permanent housing solutions. The coalition has established a program through the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County to provide security deposit grants for individuals vetted and qualified by housing authorities to seek permanent housing in public or privately available housing facilities. Stable housing is consistent with the widely accepted principle of social service organizations that the key to long term personal stability is "housing first". For many, it will be the first time in their lives they have had the opportunity to occupy a space of their own, a fact barely conceivable to most of our congregation.
Through this program, participating churches will partner with county agencies and non-profits who use professional case workers to qualify and mentor Anne Arundel County residents seeking to obtain affordable housing. Both the currently homeless, as well as those living often in less than desirable housing conditions, will be eligible. By joining forces with other churches, SMC will be able to leverage its resources to bring real change to people's lives.
Through a grant from the Missions Commission, SMC committed $500 this calendar year to help reach the $10,000 minimum necessary at the Community Foundation to begin making grants. Each church is then asked to contribute $1,000 annually thereafter to sustain the program. Even if only half the 70 churches involved are able to commit to that nominal level of annual funding, we will be in a position to help many individuals and families achieve their dream of independent living in a home of their own making.
A governing board comprised of the Arundel House of Hope and representatives selected from participating faith communities will determine the grant allocations to be made from the fund. This program is a compassionate, transparent, and focused effort to help these citizens, our neighbors, as they struggle to stabilize and improve their lives.
If you wish further information or to become more involved with this program, please contact Harry Caldwell at hbcaldwell@comcast.net. Through this effort you will transform the lives of others, and in so doing, transform your own.
Winter Relief
Since 1992, a growing number of Anne Arundel County churches and synagogues have cooperatively provided shelter for the homeless as part of the Winter Relief Program administered by the Arundel House of Hope. St. Margaret's has participated in this coalition of 70 churches and synagogues for the past four years, with as many as 140 parishioners involved each year. Several of our homeless guests have found shelter, employment, and a renewed sense of hope and self-esteem through the efforts of so many of our parishioners.
Bringing Shelter to the Underserved
The 70-church Arundel House of Hope coalition has now extended its partnership in a more substantive way to help individuals and families obtain more permanent housing solutions. The coalition has established a program through the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County to provide security deposit grants for individuals vetted and qualified by housing authorities to seek permanent housing in public or privately available housing facilities. Stable housing is consistent with the widely accepted principle of social service organizations that the key to long term personal stability is "housing first". For many, it will be the first time in their lives they have had the opportunity to occupy a space of their own, a fact barely conceivable to most of our congregation.
Through this program, participating churches will partner with county agencies and non-profits who use professional case workers to qualify and mentor Anne Arundel County residents seeking to obtain affordable housing. Both the currently homeless, as well as those living often in less than desirable housing conditions, will be eligible. By joining forces with other churches, SMC will be able to leverage its resources to bring real change to people's lives.
Through a grant from the Missions Commission, SMC committed $500 this calendar year to help reach the $10,000 minimum necessary at the Community Foundation to begin making grants. Each church is then asked to contribute $1,000 annually thereafter to sustain the program. Even if only half the 70 churches involved are able to commit to that nominal level of annual funding, we will be in a position to help many individuals and families achieve their dream of independent living in a home of their own making.
A governing board comprised of the Arundel House of Hope and representatives selected from participating faith communities will determine the grant allocations to be made from the fund. This program is a compassionate, transparent, and focused effort to help these citizens, our neighbors, as they struggle to stabilize and improve their lives.
If you wish further information or to become more involved with this program, please contact Harry Caldwell at hbcaldwell@comcast.net. Through this effort you will transform the lives of others, and in so doing, transform your own.
