With my last article of the year, you would expect it to be about Christmas. Please be sure to read through the article as we do get back to Christmas at the end. But I want to start with information on those in our community who are unhoused (I use that term in place of homeless)!

With the cold weather, we have seen occupancy soar at Brighter Days – we have reached 34 men and 9 women at the shelter. The men’s dorm comfortably holds thirty people and the women’s dorm holds sixteen. We have an overflow room that will hold four people – so we have resorted to adding cots to meet the need. To say that the number of unhoused individuals is exploding would be very accurate.

Many of you may know that the City of Columbus commissioned the United Way to develop a report – which Love Chapel has been involved with. The report is excellent, but here is a summary of the steps recommended.

Create working groups to explore the emerging themes: How might we work together as a community to explore and evaluate alternate options for housing and increase the supply of very affordable housing? Research and evaluate shared housing options; Research and evaluate single room occupancy units; Research and evaluate permanent supportive housing; Research and evaluate tiny home villages; Research and evaluate regulated campsites b. How might we work together as a community to redesign the social service delivery system, so it effectively moves people out of homelessness and into permanent housing? c. How might we work together as a community to develop strategies that engage private landlords? d. How might we work together as a community to coordinate policies across the community that impact people who are homeless? e. How might we work together as a community to reduce the number of evictions in our community? f. How might we work together as a community to implement a street outreach social worker program?

To follow that up, the City of Columbus has approved $2 million dollars towards solutions – $1.5 million will be used to create affordable housing and $500,000 will be designated to the above items in the United Way Report. Big numbers and it is important, but it takes away from the people who are unhoused.

Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, we are allowed to use the gym at First Presbyterian, to host a party for those who have nowhere else to go. We have a traditional dinner, have games available to play and generally just have fun. One year, when the day was over, I had a gentleman come up to me and say – this was the best Christmas I ever had.

It made me feel really good for about 1 minute and then the reality of what he said came crashing down. In his 30 some years, having food with strangers, not family and playing some games was his best Christmas. People grow up in such terrible situations these days – they don’t really have a good chance to grow into having a house. That is the reality – and it is finally being addressed.

So, this Christmas, be thankful for the many blessings we have, but be mindful of the plight of others. If you want to help with funding Brighter Days, we invite you to visit our website at Home – Love Chapel.

Have a Blessed Christmas!

Kelly