Away in a Manger & Housing for All

 

                                       Sudbury Homeless Encampment, Memorial Park, Summer 2021

1 Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,

the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

We lived in the city of Sudbury in Northern Ontario for eleven years, raising our family there as I served St. Andrew's United Church, a downtown congregation. During that time we began a sit-down meal ministry which became a collaborative enterprise involving other congregations and community contributors. We also had a food distribution ministry. 

One of our St. A's members who was involved in that meal ministry, Deb MacIntosh, became a city councillor after we left town and because I check in on Sudbury news from time to time I saw yesterday that she and others on council are working to establish transitional housing for those dealing with homelessness and addiction. Council voted to support the project with $600,000 despite the fact that the provincial government has ignored requests for financial support. The project for 40 units has been scaled back to 20 but the city will proceed. At a meeting earlier this year Deb said: "These are our sons and daughters who are suffering. And it's time for long-term solutions towards a healthy community for everyone"

Several things came to mind as I read about this. The issue of homelessness has obviously become more acute in Sudbury in the decades since we left because of the lack of affordable housing. This past Summer there was a tent city in the public park immediately behind St. A's, something which would have unthinkable 25 years ago. 

The Sudbury situation is a reminder that communities across the province are dealing with the reality of a growing number of precariously housed people and struggling with how to address the demand, including finding funds to pay for it. No one wants homeless encampments but who will provide shelters and more permanent housing? Here in Belleville city councillors have mixed feelings about responsibility and as with Sudbury there is a degree of NIMBYism. 

I also thought about Deb's commendable persistence with this initiative, knowing that her commitment to marginalized persons is motivated, in part, by her Christian faith. Through the years I served four congregations which had meal ministries, In some instances these ministries expanded into other forms of advocacy. In retirement we attend Trenton UC which provides meals (one today) and will be home to a community warming centre for the first time this Winter. Literally hundreds of people from different faith communities have given their time to these various initiatives. I've always been impressed and grateful for their compassion and generosity. 

We might ponder these issues as we nostalgically sing Away in a Manger on Christmas Eve. 

And hang in there, Deb, as you fight the good fight!