Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
May 22, 2002
Affordable housing organization to sponsor summit June 3
Housing Justice! Inc. to hold workshop at Regis University
As part of its education and advocacy mission, Housing Justice! Inc. is sponsoring a housing summit 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 3 at Regis University's Lowell Campus in northwest Denver.
In the morning Sister Lillian Murphy, the longtime leader of Mercy Housing, which provides quality, affordable housing to 28,000 people around the nation, will discuss "A Charge to Justice." The Rev. Jim Wallis, author of "Faith Works" and leader of "Call to Renewal," will give the luncheon address: "The Role of the Faith Community in Social Justice."
Workshops, plenary sessions, networking for regional action and exhibits also will be offered. Cost is $25.
A lack of affordable housing is cited as the main obstacle for low-income families to become self-sufficient. Yet the problem is large, and growing. On any given day, there are more than 12,000 homeless people in Colorado, more than half are families. In the state there also is a shortage of more than 30,000 rental units affordable for workers earning less than $37,000 annually.
Recognizing the need for more low-income housing, Gov. Bill Owens met in December 2000 with Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., and the Rt. Rev. William J. "Jerry" Winterrowd, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado.
The three agreed that a shortage exists and that faith communities could broaden awareness and educate the public. Out of that, Housing Justice! Inc. was born. The goal: to eliminate the affordable housing shortage by the year 2020. The organization plans to accomplish that by "awakening, organizing and mobilizing Colorado's entire faith community to advocate for affordable housing."
The idea is catching on. All 12 of the member denominations of the Colorado Council of Churches, along with the Catholic Church, the Colorado Jewish Rabbinical Council, the Colorado Muslim Society and several evangelical Christian communities are supporting the effort.
In Colorado Springs, St. Mary's Cathedral and the Tri-Community Parishes of Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Holy Rosary have become members, along with First Congregational Church.
"These churches also participate in the Interfaith Hospitality Network and help out food banks, so they are familiar with the direct-service aspect. Now, we're trying to move people to a direct-advocacy role that's non-threatening," said Ruth Roland of St. Mary's Cathedral. "Many people who aren't finding housing that they can afford are firefighters, teachers, senior citizens. If we can put a personal face on the problem, we're hoping to get more people involved in solving the problem."
For more information about the housing summit, call 303-404-2285, or visit www.housingjustice.org online. Regis University is at 52nd Avenue and Lowell Boulevard in Denver.
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