Heard It at Council (March 2016)

March 8, 2016

Moderator Deb Washington opened the meeting with a prayer, acknowledging the recent visit of Ted Landsmark - the subject of the 1977 Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph "The Soiling of Old Glory". In the photo he is seen being assaulted by a man who has weaponized the American flag during an anti-busing demonstration in Boston City Hall Plaza. After the attack a police officer tried to escort him to an ambulance for help but, somehow knowing that he was in the midst of a ‘watershed moment’, he refused the officer’s arm because he did not want to appear arrested. What are race relations today? What is God calling us to do with regard to those relations? To grow in God is to discern His will for us one day at a time, one step at a time. We try to listen, see what He unveils, then follow with hope for and trust in the future.

Rev. Nancy Taylor welcomed David Albaugh who spoke about the condition of homelessness in Boston and Old South Church’s response with Boston Warm. When Long Island and its services precipitously closed in October 2014, Rev. Taylor reached out to David, whose qualifications were well known, to help shepherd an immediate church response to the flood of needy persons on our streets. What began as a three-month commitment became a yearlong project.

Of approximately 645,966 residents in Boston, about 7,663 are homeless. Shelters provide some temporary relief, but little in the way of dignity. In shelters privacy is scarce; they are noisy and unruly and most are “wet” - a resident need not be dry of alcohol or clean of drugs in order to sleep there. But sleep is difficult and everyone must leave during the day. They are cramped and crowded. Some residents are transitioning from prison, and criminal behavior sometimes occurs.

Most homeless persons lack a support system: family, church, employment, friends. The residents almost always suffer from a “triggering event”: loss of a job, death of a family member or divorce, loss of a home, a crisis in faith. The challenges to helping them include addiction and mental health issues, physical limitations, the “help system” itself as navigated through the various providers and limited agencies, and the stigma. Often the very cause of one’s homelessness is also the chief impediment to suitable housing. People affected become “cycled,” ending right back in the same predicament which caused their problems in the first place. Many need an advocate simply to fill out the myriad of forms in order to get certified as homeless, a status which may confer at least some public benefits.

In terms of solutions, there is no silver bullet. The path out of homelessness is labyrinthine. Goals should be to coordinate benefits and resources; to help offer and build a link to the most at-risk individuals; help those who do not want to be helped; increase the number of detox and rehab beds; increase education. Non-solutions abound too: ignoring the problem; shooing the homeless away; ignoring the causes; refusing compassion. One of the simplest ways to help is acknowledging a homeless person - look into his or her eyes, engage in conversation.

With the new facility on Southampton Street, shelter (not rehab) beds have been replaced. Volunteers there and elsewhere now carry and are trained in Narcan (opioid antidote administered nasally) which saves lives of patients who have overdosed on heroin or opiates. Boston Warm continues to provide comfort, now at Emmanuel Church. Dave, Debbie, and others have smoothed the transition from Old South Church. Boston Warm has become part of the solution. Boston Warm treats the afflicted with respect and they, in turn, start to respect themselves.

Rev. John Edgerton has testified in an attempt to have a state of emergency declared on the issue of homelessness. Opposition to the proper treatment of homelessness exists in the expectable places such as the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay. Businesses simply don’t want homeless people hanging around.

Rev. Taylor emphasized that the homeless are part of our ministry, part of our lives. No organized, unified body now exists for addressing this widespread problem. We have an opportunity to continue being part of the solution. With Boston Warm more than 70 souls a day are being helped; Old South is making a difference.

The meeting closed with a prayer, and gratitude to all involved with Boston Warm.

Robert Gabler, Clerk