Faith Organizations in their Communities
In rural America, millions of people of color face accessibility issues when it comes to broadband. In these areas, many people rely on landlines to participate in church services – especially during the time of Zoom services.
The pandemic highlighted the critical role of Black churches as community hubs, offering services beyond spiritual support, including healthcare, childcare, and now, bridging the digital divide.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a program that offers discounted internet access and discounts on devices for eligible households. In North Carolina, the ACP is collaborating with faith-based organizations like Peletah Ministries to widen the reach of the program. The Balm in Gilead and the National African American Clergy Network are also advocating for more funding for ACP.
Migrant Crisis
The City’s shelter system is currently holding more than 64,000 migrants as Mayor Adams announces a new order to try to ease pressure on shelters. Under this new shift, migrant families must move out of shelters after 60 days and reapply for shelter.
As the city faces this complex issue, faith-based organizations have emerged as crucial players in addressing the ongoing migrant crisis.
Faith-based organizations are addressing the migrant crisis by operating their own shelters and programs for refugees. Masbia Soup Kitchen Network set up tents with welcome kits for refugees and the Muslim Community Center offered migrants shelter in their prayer rooms.
The New York Disaster Interfaith Services has been awarded $75 million to support 50 houses of worship and other faith-based organizations willing to house and provide meals, clothes and other services to 19 migrants each.
To find out if your organization is eligible to be a shelter visit their website here.
Faith-Based Affordable Housing
Houses of faith and faith-based organizations across the country are advocating for and developing affordable housing for their communities.
In Los Angeles, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church is working with Habitat for Humanity to build 24 affordable housing units. With churches being the largest landholders collectively in Los Angeles County, many congregations feel it is important that they step in and address the housing crisis.
Earlier this year, over 300 congregations and six Episcopal dioceses signed a letter in support of the Affordable Housing on Faith Lands Act, a bill (passed earlier this month) that would make it easier to build housing on land owned by religious and higher education institutions. California’s Department of Housing and Community Development says that the state needs to add 1.2 million affordable homes over the next decade.
The Antioch Planning Commission in partnership with Hope Solutions and advocacy Multi-Faith ACTION Coalition is working to promote equity-focused affordable housing production and preservation. They are currently working on developing a new type of housing in the community called cottage communities. If approved, these housing structures will have 1,200 square foot homes, community gardens, and on-site support services for faith leaders, unhoused, and low-income residents.
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