Is the church’s approach to fighting homelessness working? Yes, and we have some examples to prove it.
When it comes to America’s homeless, Christian organizations set out to do more than offer a hot meal and safe place to stay. They believe that in order to best serve their needy neighbors, they must get to know them.
Jim Reese, president and CEO of Atlanta Mission tells Christianity Today, “Instead of being a kitchen cook, you’d be out at the tables with the people.”
Then asking, “How do you change lives? It comes from creating a relationship with them and building trust.”
The Atlanta mission serves 1,000 homeless men, women, and children a day in its shelters, programs, and transitional homes.
Though religious nonprofits in some locales have faced escalating restrictions on homeless outreach in recent years, their efforts are working. Researchers discovered that faith-based organizations’ relational approach leads to a deeper understanding of the complexity of homelessness and better outcomes for their clients and cities.
Ministries provide 60 percent of emergency shelter spots available in 11 major American cities, and the more faith-based shelters operating, the smaller its homeless population, according to a recent Baylor University study.
And the result for taxpayers is substantial. In the 11 locations studied, faith-based nonprofits were particularly effective at saving taxpayers an estimated $119 million with their care and training.