I was guided to this poem yesterday, too good not to pass along. What a beautiful poem for Easter week (and it’s Passover too!). It’s written by a UU minister, now deceased. So glad his poem survives.
And so we come on our donkeys,
Some from Detroit and some from Tokyo and even a few from Seoul.
With horns blaring and brakes screeching,
We enter the city, the holy of holies.
We know what Caesar wants:
Testing ranges and new arenas while the homeless haunt church basements
and the poor shuffle in the streets.
But we march to a different drummer.
Not many rich, not many mighty.
A vagabond crew in a strange land,
Whose ways are not our ways
Nor thoughts our thoughts.
But let us be of good cheer.
Let the word go out.
The donkey is mightier than the missile.
And flowers have been known to split a rock.
This week moves inexorably toward Friday.
It is Caesar’s week.
But it is God’s world.
And so we take heart and rejoice. Amen.
read comments (0)
We’re doing something a little different this year for our pledge campaign - thinking about stewardship first, why this congregation is important to us and why we want to care for it, before diving into the “nuts and bolts” of the budget. To learn more about stewardship, I invite you to check out our pledge information on this website to get informed and get inspired: http://hunterdonuu.org/wpmu/pledge-campaign-2010/. Soon, we’ll have up a few members reflections on why they give, as well.
May your life be generous, may your life be a gift,
Rev. Bob
Many in our congregation have been thinking of how we can help reduce poverty in our world. A big goal, yes, but one that merits our attention. Part of the discussion has been about affordable housing. A group of members and friends met to discuss affordable housing recently, in light of the state bill currently being considered that would abolish the Council on Affordable Housing (S. 1). The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey (UULMNJ) is opposed to S.1, and we are figuring out where we stand as an independent congregation. This is a complicated issue, to be sure, bringing in questions of economic justice, environmental responsibility, smart growth, regional cooperation, and how we can love our neighbor, to name a few. So we’re doing our best to educate ourselves about the issue. We may have a statement on the issue soon, but in the meantime, I wanted to post a wonderful document prepared by one of our members with experience in housing rights, Laura Ramos. As I would with anything I post, I want to stress that her words do not necessarily represent the opinions of the congregation as a whole. But I found them a fascinating and insightful blend of personal and policy acts we can make to live what we believe. Here it is, from Laura:
February 22, 2009
What can FUUFHC and Individual Members do to support Affordable Housing in New Jersey during this critical time?
Suggestions from Laura Ramos, Everyone for Accessible Community Housing of New Jersey:
1. As a congregation petition to have this added as a topic for the UULMNJ. Especially have the legislative ministry assist in legislation and action which assists low income, elderly and people with disabilities have accessible and affordable, habitable housing in New Jersey. And to help the homeless and to prevent homelessness.
2. As a congregation or as individuals, assist those non-profit, charitable, and other organizations which are trying to assist those most adversely affected by the housing crisis: Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, Disability Rights New Jersey(formerly New Jersey Protection and Advocacy), Community Health Law Project, Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity, and your local municipalities.
3. Volunteer your time with a non-profit who is fighting for affordable housing, fair housing rights, building affordable housing, assisting those who are homeless or preventing homelessness, etc.
4. If you have professional skills that may add to the numbers of cases an agency might take on (as an attorney or paralegal or trained advocate), volunteer your services pro bono to assist in their efforts.
5. Everyone for Accessible Community Housing is looking for volunteers to assist in fund-raising, donations of supplies, educational efforts, advocacy efforts, and legal efforts to protect the rights of people with disabilities, the frail elderly, and those with economical challenges. EACH of NJ began as EACH of Hunterdon, but due to the crisis and the brunt of housing problems for these vulnerable populations has decided to try to create an organization which will help throughout the state. Advocacy, referrals, education, and eventually fair housing testing and taking cases to court. Housing discrimination cases nationwide are over 40% cases of discrimination based on disability. It is happening in Hunterdon County and we can put our efforts into making it stop.
6. To increase the number of elderly and people with disabilities to remain as independent as possible, please volunteer or make donations to the organizations or services which assist them to stay in their own homes or apartments:
A. Volunteer to be a Meals on Wheels Driver
B. Volunteer to bring food from one of the food pantries to those who have no transportation to get to the pantry.
C. Volunteer with the county to assist with transporting seniors and the disabled to medical appointments, the pharmacy, etc.
D. Volunteer with the Mr. Fix-it Program which aids seniors and people with disabilities to have necessary maintenance done on their homes that they can no longer do themselves.
E. Volunteer to shovel (or snowblow/plow) your elderly/disabled neighbor’s drive so they can get out to their medical appointments or their aides can get in to assist them.
F. Donate funds, needed supplies, and time to non-profits who are trying to make a difference in the affordable housing and supportive services for the disabled and elderly.
G. Investigate and lobby to have safer housing with more services for those who are homeless. Many are housed in deteriorating motels that were built decades ago, and where there is doubt that some pass habitability standards for the State of New Jersey. Also, many of the motels are far away from any services these individuals and families may need. Lobby the County to provide lodging in hotels or motels or some other shelter where those who are homeless can easily access food, medical attention, and other social service and employment programs they might need.
H. Improve the IHN: When I was homeless in January 2008, the IHN said they had no placements for those who needed accessible accommodations (like grab bars by the toilet or in the shower, shower benches, etc). Shouldn’t there be shelter that could assist those who need accessible accommodations? And if such shelter is only available at one or two locations, couldn’t the volunteers from the different churches rotate who serves those sites, rather than requiring the homeless with disabilities to go again without shelter, because the next church’s facilities is not accessible?
I. Assist those residents of affordable housing complexes throughout Hunterdon (and the state), because many lack the maintenance required to keep up habitable conditions, many lack enforcement of the habitability codes, and the fair housing laws of NJ and the US. Some lack the supportive services they were promised (transportation, recreational activities, social supports, etc). Many tenants, particularly those with developmental disabilities have been experiencing difficulty getting the housing funding and support services funding that they were assured of when leaving more institutional settings. People with developmental disabilities are being put in precarious situations because the supports to care for them, continue medical treatment, provide transportation to jobs, appointments or food shopping were not provided or are now being cut. In an individual’s rental and utility allowances were cut, but their rent and utilities went up– but their income stayed the same, they are at risk of losing their housing.
J. Take an interest in those who are in developmental centers, group homes, or other institutions, as some places are not providing the care they are supposed to. In Bloomsbury, two women were caring for 2 women with disabilities. One of the women with disabilities died and the other wound up in hospital. In a group home, one disbabled woman was subjected to violent and uncontrolled behavior by other residents. The staff was neither trained nor able to contain the unpredictable behavior of these residents, who should never have been placed in such a setting.
K. Take an interest in what is happening to those with mental illness. Some are being released from psychiatric hospitals into nursing homes. Recently, one elderly roommate was murdered by the person sharing their room in the nursing home. In other situations, people with mental illness are not getting the medical or social work care they need to be able to safely maintain an independent lifestyle. Placements must be beneficial to the person with mental illness. The placements should not put anyone in danger from others.
L. Lobby your municipality to encourage the placement of affordable housing near shopping, medical offices, and other necessary services. Placing affordable housing where there are no services nor transportation, makes it very difficult for the residents to succeed and integrate into the community around them. We have a lot to offer, don’t put us away and out of sight.
M. When there are rallies for affordable housing, attend for those who can not (the elderly and disabled’s medical conditions may prevent them from attending or they may have no transportation). And if you can, offer a ride to someone who wants to go, but doesn’t have their own transportation. So many of the needs of the elderly and disabled and the poor are invisible, because we often do not have the resources to attend such events.
N. Be creative. Think of solutions that are out of the box. Donate artwork to EACH of NJ to help fund-raising efforts to become a non-profit, help advocates go to the Housing Justice Network meeting in Washington, DC, donate food/office supplies/time to fund-raising events, educational events, and etc.
O. Add innovation to the Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity. Offer your services to design a home for people with disabilities. Or offer to help them redo an abandonded property in Hunterdon County turning an eyesore into a blessing. Or offer your expertise, contracting skills, and alternative energy devices such as solar panels or small wind turbines or other green energy saving features to their homes - it will help save the environment and save the new home owners money on energy bills.
P. Many residents on fixed incomes are at risk for losing their homes in New Jersey due to property taxes. Maybe some folks could get together and start a fund to assist Hunterdon County elderly and disabled residents stay in their homes, rather than lose them to tax sales… It’s far less expensive in the short term and the long run, to help them find a way to stay in their homes, than to have them forced out and need to move into government assisted housing. Or one could help with a legislative move that would significantly decrease property taxes on principal homes of the low income elderly and disabled - the “senior freeze” program only works if you can keep up with your property taxes in the first place.
Q. Vote against local efforts which discriminate against certain segments of the community - like local laws which have passed that discriminate against immigrant communities in Flemington. Promote Fair Housing for all.
R. Fight for the enforcement of local Property Maintenance Ordinances, State and Federal habitability codes to prevent the deterioration of the affordable housing that is already available in Hunterdon County. Deteriorating apartment complexes are not only hazardous to those who live there, but lower property values for everyone nearby.
S. Lend a Hand. Lend a Heart. Lend your Voice. And we will overcome some day!