A special message from south whidbey homeless coalition

A Message To The Community From SWHC

In February of this year many of us who work with and among the homeless here came together and formed the SWHC. We are an association of neighbors, including those who are or have experienced homelessness, local activists and advocates, community and faith-based service providers, and others committed to prevent and abate homelessness on South Whidbey, while protecting each individual’s civil rights and filling their immediate needs.

Please turn the page to read our story to learn more about our origination and how you may want to join or help our group to be part of the solicitation to help homeless people In our community.

Our mission statement reads: "The South Whidbey Homeless Coalition (SWHC) strives to make homelessness a brief and rare experience in our community. We serve as a catalyst for the creation of emergency, transitional and permanent housing, the delivery of services and community advocacy.

Though homelessness has been a persistent issue on Whidbey Island, in the local conscience the need was believed to be addressed through the good works of Island County, nonprofit agencies, churches, schools and volunteers.

There are no emergency facilities or shelters in the South Whidbey area. People have been provided for on a one on one basis, and often redirected to Oak Harbor or off island. Recently the homeless have become visible, pervasive and challenging to the capacity of the community to respond.

School data suggest there are 80+ homeless children; the Good Cheer food bank estimates 400 individuals without permanent housing including those who are house surfing and families living with other families searching for appropriate arrangements.

South Whidbey is an economically diverse community which harbors people of myriad backgrounds and varied means. Relatively unnoticed among the island’s scenic attributes is a burgeoning sector of poor and homeless; our neighbors who for one of many reasons, are suffering.

SWHC is a broad community based initiative to recognize the spectrum of needs and fill those gaps in providing essential services. The principal underserved sector of need among our vulnerable neighbors is housing. SWHC efforts to fill this need fall into four areas: (continued on next page)

1) Preventing Homelessness - This is the work of a caring community. In particular, this initiative seeks to find ways, both legal and social, to keep people in their homes through trying times and to develop an early warning system by which potential need for shelter may manifest and be addressed. We also educate our neighbors as to the status of homelessness.

2) Emergency Immediate Shelter - Finding oneself without a roof overhead and a bed to sleep on is an urgent crisis that can’t be postponed. SWHC envisions that Island County and the church community are best positioned to address this. It’s our work to facilitate their efforts.

3) Transitional Housing – House of Hospitality - For those who find themselves cast adrift, the road back to stability and selfsufficiency may take longer. Creation of a community residence that nurtures its members leverages the gifts of the wider community and provides a road map to independence and security is a central initiative of SWHC. 4) Permanent Housing for the Chronically Vulnerable - We envision purpose-built or converted housing that enables a small community of people to exercise their rights and freedoms in a protected atmosphere which supports them in living life fully.

The art and practice of hospitality Hospitality is essentially an attitude which influences how we go about our being with others in a simple, human and healing way. This stance of Hospitality is the heart and soul of any service offered to people. The great theologian Henri Nouwen defines Hospitality as" the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy.

Hospitality is not to change people but to offer them a space where change can take place. We cannot change other people by our convictions, stories, advise and proposals but we can offer a space where people are encouraged to disarm themselves, to lay aside their occupations and preoccupations and to listen with attention and care to the voice speaking in their own center."

Since we are all affected by each person's suffering and joy, hospitality fulfills the basic truth of our solidarity with one another This type of Hospitality is at the core of our work in this community with those persons, our neighbors, who lack shelter. We invite you to join us in this work.

What is a house of hospitality?

This is a home that provides a temporary, safe living situation for those individuals in our community without permanent shelter. A House of Hospitality can also be a focal point in the community for persons to meet together, address and take action on issues that create homelessness as well as other areas of injustice. We believe homelessness is accompanied by trauma of one kind or another and we believe that healing of the mind, body and spirit may best be accomplished within the structure of a loving, supportive environment.

We are a fledgling organization with a mission to serve the homeless. We have very limited funds at this point in time, yet we are prepared to earnestly seek out a large home and property on a bus line for rent or lease that we can use for a House of Hospitality in order to address our third point above, transitional housing.

We have chosen to rent or lease a home at this time in order that we may house people before the cold weather is upon us. We are seeking pledges from community members for one year to make this goal of creating a House of Hospitality on South Whidbey a reality with a pledge to help us obtain a house.

We have budgeted approximately $35,000 for one year as rent and operating costs for this home. So many of you have asked what you can do to help out in this work and here is where we begin. A small pledge from our many friends and neighbors can help us meet this goal. Blessings and join us as we work to make our community a kinder place for the many who need a helping hand.

If you would like to learn more about the South Whidbey Homeless Coalition We would be happy to come and present to your organization, church or community. Our e-mail address is below: swhomelesscoalition@gmail.com There are Several Methods You Can Provide Your Pledge To ensure we have enough funds to lease a home we ask you to pledge your donation for one year. In one check or monthly checks .

Please click the eagle to learn more about our pledge program