Since last January, a small group of committed individuals from different faith groups has been working to address homelessness in Johnson County. Below is a summary of their successes put together by organizer Bob Untiedt. Some question the heart and soul of faith-based initiatives, myself included at times. However, it is important to note that many of the participants are members of "liberal" churches, synagogues, and mosques.
Events/outcomes of homeless organizing in Johnson County since 2006
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Jan. 2006: 125 people meet with Mayors of Iowa City & North Liberty, and Vice- Mayor of Coralville, in a reflective meeting on values around housing.
Spring 2006: education, research efforts, and mobilizing occur. We agree to ask for a 20% Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, annual support starting in 2007 of $70,000 for Shelter House, a one-time grant of $50,000 for Shelter House to help match a federal grant, and a transit study for seniors.
April 30, 2006: 650 people, media, and government leaders from Coralville, Iowa City, and Johnson County gather. Few commitments are made, but this gets noticed.
Summer/Fall 2006: irregular gatherings occur of various church people. Over the summer, especially, a handful of people speak at the Coralville City Council meeting. We consider and reject another large public meeting in the fall.
December, 2006: led by the Shelter House, 35 or so people from this group and other Shelter House volunteers attend an Iowa City City Council meeting, to request increased funding in the 2007 budget.
Spring 2007: big news! Iowa City funds Shelter House and its programs a total of $41,147 (up from just over $16,000 the last two years)!!! Johnson County increases funding from $8721 to $51,721!!! Coralville (as yet this is a rumor) may be doubling its historic support, from $2000 to $4000. WE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.
Also: this may be coincidence, or maybe not. Fr. Ken Kuntz acted to request Sen. Robert Dvorsky of Coralville look into why the State Supreme Court was holding up consideration of the Shelter House case. Sen. Dvorsky was amenable to that request, and as he's on the state Senate Judiciary Committee, may have gotten a better-than-average response. Call it coincidence, but two days after that request by Fr. Ken: the Supreme Court set a date for the next hearing. Again, our actions have made a difference.
In early April, 2007, we met with Amy Corriea of the Iowa City City Council, on her request. She noted that we were very effective and that we should "keep going". We need to engage the decision of Iowa City to disinvest in affordable housing on the southeast side. We are moving forward with requesting support from Cornell College for mapping the density of affordable housing by census tract, and also begin a process of discernment around creating a new nonprofit faith-based community organization in Johnson and Linn Counties. Our next meeting will be called after the Supreme Court acts, or in early fall, whichever comes first.
The care and action of ordinary people does make a difference. Ask city and county government leaders. Ask Shelter House employees. Most importantly, ask the persons whom Shelter House serves. Along with the continued commitment of persons of faith here in the Emergency Shelter - and the other ways in which we have acted to care for "the least of these" - we should be
grateful for the good of which we have been a part.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
Since last January, a small group of committed individuals from different faith groups has been working to address homelessness in Johnson County. Below is a summary of their successes put together by organizer Bob Untiedt. Some question the heart and soul of faith-based initiatives, myself included at times. However, it is important to note that many of the participants are members of "liberal" churches, synagogues, and mosques.
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