Over the past several months, BFJN has shifted our focus to highlight the issue of housing justice. Through podcasts, a book club, and blog posts, our goal has been to learn alongside you, our faithful community, and grow in understanding and empathy for our neighbors. We have discovered the intersectionality of housing justice with other areas of justice such as climate change, mental health, substance abuse, racism, and sexism. And further, we dove into learning more about what housing justice looks like in our own backyard. 

One of the greatest things I have learned over the past few months came from our book club discussing Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness written by Kevin Nye. The idea of showing grace is common, especially within the church. However, actually practicing grace is another story. Growing up right outside of New York City, I was exposed to homelessness at a young age. And while I certainly was never unkind to those experiencing homelessness, I needed the perspective change that this book offered. Showing grace looks like recognizing the shared humanity between us and our neighbors. A simple smile and acknowledgement of your fellow neighbor when passing them on the street can go a long way. It also looks like extending a helping hand whenever the opportunity should arise. Not shying away from offering our time, money, and resources, and working together to help our struggling neighbors. And through God’s grace, we are able to be kinder and show more empathy to people experiencing homelessness.

Understanding the issue of housing justice takes time and is a journey. With the many intersections and the variety of needs, the place we are at now represents the beginning of more growth and learning in the future. At the end of this blog, there will be some more resources to look into including past information that BFJN has released. That being said, my prayer is that we all would learn grace, and show grace to our family, the environment, and our neighbors both near and far. And this grace, the gift that abounds, will lead us home. 

Books:

• Grace Can Lead us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness – Kevin Nye

• The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America

• In the Midst of Plenty: Homelessness and What To Do About It – Marybeth Shinn and Jill Khadduri

Podcasts + Uncomfortable Conversation: 

1. Our Uncomfortable Conversation on Housing Justice
2. ​​BFJN Podcast – “Let’s Talk: Faith and Justice”

Housing Justice Campaign: https://www.gbio.org/uploads/1/2/9/1/129126696/gbio_housing_justice_campaign_overview_and_asks.pdf