6.5 The Role of Faith Based Providers Speaker: Claas Ehlers It can be challenging to ensure that all of the key players are participants in the planning and implementation of community initiatives to end homelessness. This workshop will explore how to engage and work with faith-based providers who are key providers of services and transitional housing. Part of the discourse will include looking at philosophical differences among organizations as well as different service models and how they can be combined into a cohesive community response.

1. Mobilizing the Faith Community to
Address Family Homelessness
Claas Ehlers
Director of Affiliate Services
cehlers@familypromise.org

2. Definitions
Faith-Based Providers:
Salvation Army, Rescue Missions, Church-run shelters and
service programs, Denominational CDCs, YMCA/YWCA/etc.,
Habitat for Humanity
Faith Community:
Congregations, judicatorial bodies, interfaith alliances,
ministeria, religious schools

3. Why be part of the CoC
 Coordinated approach
 Funding
 Trends
 Census
 Referrals
 Nature of families served

4. Re-Aligning Who You Are and What You Do
 Housing First
 Interim Housing
 Solution-oriented
 Ending culture of
shelter
 Reducing time in
shelter

5. Opportunities
 Collaborations
 Additional Resources
 Funding
 Program expansion

6. Advocacy
Tapping into the faith community

7. Best Practices in Working with Faith Community
 Direct Service
 Material Support
 Professional Services
 Financial Support
 Advocacy

8. What you need to have in place
 Expectations
 Time and leadership
 Clear and effective
communication channels
 Patience and flexibility
 Specific calls to action

9. How to approach the faith community
 Ministerial/Interfaith Groups
 Existing agendas
 Inability to act as a group
 Overcommitted clergy
 Connections
 Internal referrals are best
 Lay leaders
 Face-to-face contact

10. Issues relevant to the faith community
 Social issues
 Serving unmarried or
same sex couples
 Proselytizing
 Approach
 Other partners
 Involving children
directly

11. Tips
 Ignorance beats
assumption
 The more specific the
better
 Use pictures, stories
 Have friends in the
religious community
help you find the
language and references

12. Tips
 Talk:
 Find out where people you know worship, how
engaged they are in issues and who to approach
at the congregation—and use your connectors
names
 Thank:
 Acknowledge everything a congregation does
 Leaders:
 Find lay leadership for your efforts
 Connect:
 Person-to-person connection, letters, emails