 | In many ways, Lubbock, Texas, population 240,000, is like many other mid-sized American towns. |
It has fireworks and a parade on the Fourth of July.
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| It has impressive scenery.  | It has delicious fried food.  |
It has a small, vibrant arts community.
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 | It also has a dilapidated downtown where those with no other options end up. |
Carpenter’s Church in Lubbock is a congregation that engages in ministry to the homeless (people, not cats: that’s a different ministry) in a working class neighborhood near downtown. The church offers classes, meals, veterans’ support, and help in navigating local social services. However, their goal is ending homelessness in Lubbock, and they saw that these services alone could not accomplish that. So in 2012 they took it up a notch: they invited two homeless men, church members, to move into the recently vacated parish house next door to the church. This pilot project was successful, and the men have since moved on to more permanent housing.
After all, it was costing Lubbock $40,000 per year to care for a homeless person on the streets, factoring in emergency medical care, interactions with the police, and cleanup of the downtown area. Just $10,000 in housing helps people get off the streets and avoid those costs.
Then the church took the next step: they began planning to build permanent supportive housing for Lubbock’s homeless. Funding came from private donations, grants, and donations from local businesses who wanted to help for practical and altruistic purposes. Churches from different denominations contributed funding and support for the project.
The church hired local builder Jordan Wheatley, who built five duplexes across the street from the church. They will be completed later this summer, and the ten one-bedroom units will be available. The first residents will be chosen based on the vulnerability index, personal history, and compatability with other residents.
After all, it was costing Lubbock $40,000 per year to care for a homeless person on the streets, factoring in emergency medical care, interactions with the police, and cleanup of the downtown area. Just $10,000 in housing helps people get off the streets and avoid those costs.
Then the church took the next step: they began planning to build permanent supportive housing for Lubbock’s homeless. Funding came from private donations, grants, and donations from local businesses who wanted to help for practical and altruistic purposes. Churches from different denominations contributed funding and support for the project.
The church hired local builder Jordan Wheatley, who built five duplexes across the street from the church. They will be completed later this summer, and the ten one-bedroom units will be available. The first residents will be chosen based on the vulnerability index, personal history, and compatability with other residents.
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A large grant from the Talkington Foundation in Lubbock funded construction of these first five duplexes.
To assist the residents with the challenges faced by such a tremendous lifestyle change, there will be a dedicated, full-time social worker on-site. She will provide aid in locating social services, job placement, medical care, mental health counseling, money management, recovery, anger management classes, obtaining an ID, and social and leisure activities such as cooking and art classes.
When residents move in, if they are able to work, they will put thirty percent of their income towards rent. Hopefully, with an address and the tools Carpenter’s Church provides, the residents will be able to assimilate into a lifestyle that lets them grow and support one another in safe and healthy ways.
The city of Lubbock had already been working to house its homeless veterans, and this task is almost accomplished. Lubbock is well on its way to ending homelessness!
Here is a link to a video that tells about the church’s homeless ministry.
Here is a link to a video that talks about the church’s permanent supportive housing plan.
Does your community have permanent supportive housing? Do you have any suggestions on how we can get involved?
To assist the residents with the challenges faced by such a tremendous lifestyle change, there will be a dedicated, full-time social worker on-site. She will provide aid in locating social services, job placement, medical care, mental health counseling, money management, recovery, anger management classes, obtaining an ID, and social and leisure activities such as cooking and art classes.
When residents move in, if they are able to work, they will put thirty percent of their income towards rent. Hopefully, with an address and the tools Carpenter’s Church provides, the residents will be able to assimilate into a lifestyle that lets them grow and support one another in safe and healthy ways.
The city of Lubbock had already been working to house its homeless veterans, and this task is almost accomplished. Lubbock is well on its way to ending homelessness!
Here is a link to a video that tells about the church’s homeless ministry.
Here is a link to a video that talks about the church’s permanent supportive housing plan.
Does your community have permanent supportive housing? Do you have any suggestions on how we can get involved?