“A Faithful Response to Homelessness” was passed at the June 2010 Presbytery meeting.
Whereas the historical witness of the PCUSA affirms the following principles:
- universal access to safe, decent, accessible, affordable, and permanent housing is a measure of just society;
- the church is called to create communities of hospitality that assure all members of society, including all persons of all conditions experiencing homelessness, a right to basic economic and social well being, including safe, affordable housing;
- the church is called to honor God’s gift of the earth and to create, through personal lifestyle choices and the structures of society, sustainable communities where people can be securely housed in just relationship with one another;
- the church is called to inspire and strongly encourage society to provide safe, decent, accessible, affordable, and permanent housing for all persons who cannot secure such housing through their own means;
and whereas the 218th GA adopted the resolution “From Homelessness to Hope: Constructing Just, Sustainable Communities for All God’s People” in exercise of its responsibility to witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in every dimension of life;
and whereas there is an immediate crisis in the Township of Lakewood which has implications for neighboring municipalities in Ocean County, Monmouth County, and beyond;
and whereas there is a long-term need to provide sustainable housing for homeless people in Ocean County;
therefore, the Mission Council of the Presbytery of Monmouth calls upon the Presbytery of Monmouth to establish a Homeless Mission Fund in the Presbytery (to be used in a partnership model to assist with emergency housing and longer term initiatives of congregations); and
the Presbytery of Monmouth calls on its congregations and interfaith partners to pursue comprehensive responses to the crisis of homelessness and affordable housing such as:
- informing and educating our congregations on the evolving crisis in Lakewood in the context of our faithful ministry with persons who are homeless;
- working to upgrade living conditions and safety in the Lakewood camp and other “tent cities” in the area while working toward more permanent solutions;
- standing together with the homeless people in Lakewood’s tent city as they oppose displacement without assurances that they will be provided with long-term, affordable permanent housing , such as safe and affordable single-room occupancy dwellings, that will enable them to continue to live in this area;
- sharing solutions, developed by the congregations, to this pressing problem;
- cooperating with County and municipal officials to establish an emergency shelter for the homeless and a Homeless Trust Fund for the County;
- contributing to the Homeless Mission Fund of the Presbytery of Monmouth.
