Covenant News
Students Learn Plight of Homeless First-Hand
By Stan FriedmanCHICAGO, IL (February 25, 2005) - A coalition of 300 students from the Midwest who were led by a North Park University junior collected more than 5,500 signatures over the weekend on petitions calling for the government to take specific action to help the homeless and others suffering poverty in Chicago.
Eighty students also spent the night on the streets last Saturday with
the homeless near Chicago's famous Miracle Mile, said Tim King, who
organized the coalition. One hundred students from North Park
participated as did others from schools such as Moody Bible Institute,
Wheaton College and some schools with secular orientations.
The event began at noon on Saturday and lasted until noon on Sunday. A news conference followed on the steps of City Hall and generated several stories in local media outlets. To read relates stories, please see:
During the day, students talked with shoppers and others about the issues of poverty and homelessness. People were asked to sign a Declaration against Poverty and Covenant for the Common Good. The group also called for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and the City Council to support inclusionary housing – also known as inclusionary zoning or housing set-asides – which is the focus of a movement around the country to require the development of affordable housing as a part of new up-scale residential development.
The "sleep out" also gave the students a greater insight into the problems the homeless encounter. The weather was harsh with temperatures plunging below freezing. "A lot of people came fully unprepared," King said. Students were able to think, "After this I can warm up. After this, I can go home and take a hot shower," King said. "Then they realized that is not the case for thousands of people in Chicago."
King said the event was "simultaneously encouraging and discouraging because this problem is so much bigger than I thought it was," adding, "a lot of people were encouraged that while the problem is big, here is something I can be doing. Here is a change I can make."
Thomas Hoffman, president of Moody's Frontline Homeless Ministry said,
"What was encouraging was just being able to see the change in people's
faces when they really learn about homelessness." Hoffman said he is
pleased that such a broad coalition of students participated, including
those without a religious faith. "Praise Jesus they were there," he
said. "Just being able to interact with Christians and non-Christians
was great."
Some Christians are too concerned about working with others outside their circle, Hoffman said, explaining, "We pre-judge who is one of us. We feel like we have to check their credentials."
The weekend was part of a continuing push to educate the public and stir people to action, King said. Plans are being developed to lobby at the state legislative level. Organizers also hope the event will promote their new website www.tothestreets.org. The site will serve as a portal to information about homelessness as well as to organizations that work with the issue. Already the site has one informational video on homelessness, and King intends to add more.
Meetings at North Park University also are planned to help students learn how to be effective advocates as well as consider starting a Call to Renewal chapter. Call to Renewal is a national network of churches, faith-based organizations, and individuals working to overcome poverty in America.
(Editor's note: to better understand the issues, the following material may be of interest):
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