Monday, June 17, 2013

Imagining a Haven of Hope


I have to admit that the first thing that came to mind when I read that the Haven of Rest was closing here in Tallahassee is “What would happen if Unitarian Universalists bought the buildings and developed a homeless mission in our own style?”

Haven of Rest had been run by North Florida Baptist Church for 30 years.  Described as a “structured faith-based program” by the Tallahassee Democrat,* Haven of Rest strove to bring the eighty to ninety homeless men it served each night to a belief in Jesus. 

What would UU’s do if we took our faith to Tennessee Street and opened the shelter under a new title -- Haven of Hope, perhaps?  What would happen something called the Haven of Hope became a focused, singular mission for this congregation?

How would we broadcast our beliefs, and encourage a broader understanding of “hope”? Would we demonstrate what we believe by:
  • Refitting the heating and cooling to install energy saving options?
  • Serving only local, organic food? Or, would we gratefully accept donations of whatever food was offered?
  • Developing relationships with area growers?  
  • Establishing Save Our Selves groups, instead of theistic AA groups?
  • Innovating programs to help the men find appropriate work?
  • Expanding our work to develop Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing, with counseling support, giving some men permanent housing?
  • Offering discussion groups on issues of the day to encourage involvement in the political processes effecting homeless men, women and children?
  • Distributing copies of the Purposes and Principles, and discuss those?
  • Bringing the foundations of our Covenant of Right Relations to our work?
  • Inviting the men to services and programs at our congregation...and what would happen if we did?

My imaginings are a fantasy, I know. If North Florida Baptist can’t raise $250,000 a year to keep the Haven of Rest afloat, what hope would our smaller congregation have of raising that amount and even more?  Yet, there is something in me that says that the Haven of Hope may be beyond our means, but, we should be extending ourselves more fully, more surely, to people who are experiencing crises in their lives. We offer support to a number of agencies that care for people in crisis, but, as a congregation we have not yet found what will be our calling to bring hope to people who are in a world of hurt.

There are many reasons we haven’t found that focus.  

Unitarian Universalists are the kind of folk who are so involved in so many good works that it seems hard to find two people who are passionate about addressing the same issue. 

Another reason may be that we just haven’t given that outward focus our concerted attention. Moving forward in Unitarian Universalist mission in the world will demand attentiveness. It will need to arise from our unique identity as a Unitarian Universalist congregation, and the singular gifts we have to offer.  

I believe there is a third reason we’ve not yet found our role in addressing the needs present in Tallahassee -- because we aren’t sure that we have something valuable to offer. I also think the questions above amply demonstrate that we do have unique perspectives to share, and we have a worldview that might help people in crisis to something more than a hot meal and bed (or whatever physical needs they know); but, instead help them to see themselves as confident and capable persons of worth, deserving in dignity.