Doing God's Work - Churches to Affordable Housing

[Quintessence]

The decline in organized religion, particularly Christianity, is well-documented in the United States. With declining membership, churches around the country may need to shutter their doors and downsize their land holdings. But what happens to these buildings and lands when the doors close?

As it turns out, many congregations are putting their Christian values into practice by repurposing their buildings and lands into affordable housing. You can read more about these efforts here:

Affordable housing in God’s backyard: Some religious congregations find a new use for their space

Many houses of worship no longer need as much space as they once did, or struggle to keep up with the bills. For some, redevelopment to include housing provides a new way to live out their mission.

theconversation.com

Have you had a congregation contribute to alleviating the affordable housing crisis in your area? Are there other contributions your local congregations have made to community housing and shelter?

 

[Quintessence]

Maybe I should make my next thread about how lack of awareness of the good religious organizations do in their community is a contributing factor to the reactionary anti-religion sentiments in their country... apparently nobody pays attention unless religions do something they think is bad. How sad.

Well, I'll mention one - our local Habitat for Humanity is routinely staffed and powered by members from various local churches. It's one of the things they do as part of their "doing God's work" thing and volunteerism. Sometimes it's building a whole house, as Habitat for Humanity is known for, but they also have a store in town that sells furnishings for your home on a steep discount. I like to get things there and donate my used stuff to there because the money and items further support their operations.

 

[Spice]

My brother's (now deceased) church owns a small house that is used for short-term, rent free housing for families in need. From what I remember him telling me, it's generally for 3 months, and includes voluntary assistance of other sorts by the congregants such as helping with resumes, finding affordable child care options, etc.

When he was telling me about it, it was a new program and they were working with a young woman with children as a transitional step after the legal aspects were settled in her abusive relationship through the womens shelter.

I have no idea how they would address someone not utilizing the time wisely or making no attempt for themsleves. Would they extend the time? Evict them? Or what? That would be an issue to investigate thoroughly, IMO, but the concept I think is fabulous.