The document discusses mobilizing faith communities to address family homelessness, highlighting the importance of coordinated approaches, funding, and collaboration. It outlines best practices for engaging faith-based organizations, including direct service, support, and advocacy, while emphasizing the need for clear communication and relationship-building. Strategies for effectively approaching these communities are provided, addressing potential challenges and the importance of connecting with leadership within religious organizations.

1. Mobilizing the Faith Community to
Address Family Homelessness
Claas Ehlers
Director of Affiliate Services
cehlers@familypromise.org

2. Definitions
Faith-Based Providers:
Salvation Army, Rescue Missions, Church-run shelters and
service programs, Denominational CDCs, YMCA/YWCA/etc.,
Habitat for Humanity
Faith Community:
Congregations, judicatorial bodies, interfaith alliances,
ministeria, religious schools

3. Why be part of the CoC
 Coordinated approach
 Funding
 Trends
 Census
 Referrals
 Nature of families served

4. Re-Aligning Who You Are and What You Do
 Housing First
 Interim Housing
 Solution-oriented
 Ending culture of
shelter
 Reducing time in
shelter

5. Opportunities
 Collaborations
 Additional Resources
 Funding
 Program expansion

6. Advocacy
Tapping into the faith community

7. Best Practices in Working with Faith Community
 Direct Service
 Material Support
 Professional Services
 Financial Support
 Advocacy

8. What you need to have in place
 Expectations
 Time and leadership
 Clear and effective
communication channels
 Patience and flexibility
 Specific calls to action

9. How to approach the faith community
 Ministerial/Interfaith Groups
 Existing agendas
 Inability to act as a group
 Overcommitted clergy
 Connections
 Internal referrals are best
 Lay leaders
 Face-to-face contact

10. Issues relevant to the faith community
 Social issues
 Serving unmarried or
same sex couples
 Proselytizing
 Approach
 Other partners
 Involving children
directly

11. Tips
 Ignorance beats
assumption
 The more specific the
better
 Use pictures, stories
 Have friends in the
religious community
help you find the
language and references

12. Tips
 Talk:
 Find out where people you know worship, how
engaged they are in issues and who to approach
at the congregation—and use your connectors
names
 Thank:
 Acknowledge everything a congregation does
 Leaders:
 Find lay leadership for your efforts
 Connect:
 Person-to-person connection, letters, emails