Unhoused Neighobrs

by Jordan Greynolds, CCO Fellow    

   What has been your experience with homelessness? Has the word ever been used to describe you? Have you lived in close proximity to widespread homelessness? No matter your experience, just begin to think about your disposition to it and those who experience it.

   When I arrived in Fresno, California in early August 2022, while unloading my car and moving into the Pink House I was told “You’ll have some unhoused neighbors around here; and don’t be surprised if someone stays the night on your porch once in a while.”

   “Alright. That doesn’t make me want to leave, but hopefully it’s not that bad,” I thought to myself.

   Hopefully it’s not that bad? As it turns out, the “it” I was referring to– homelessness– was actually “worse” than I had expected. Yet, today I find myself loving where I live, also more than expected.

   It would be easy, yet impulsive to conclude as I reflect, that I should now feel ashamed at my initial thoughts when posed with the reality that I’d be sharing such proximity with unhoused folks. Shame is far from how we should feel, though, no matter what your own personal response would have been. Conviction, however, is a more appropriate thing to feel.

   It doesn’t matter what you answered in your mind when you read the opening questions. We all have our own walks and journeys. What matters is that we recognize where brokenness exists and that we are moving towards restoration.

  Months removed from my “hopefully it’s not that bad” reaction, I’m now extremely grateful for our unhoused neighbors. The turning point came after some of us Pink Housers and our neighbors shared a Thanksgiving meal. We got to learn the names, faces, and stories of some really cool guys. They became real people to me– people I genuinely enjoy talking to. They showed us so much gratitude just for sharing a meal and engaging with them.

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  What our neighbors did for us though was equally powerful as they gave us new perspectives and a greater ability to see God in all his people– something that cannot be fully grasped without personal connection.
 

JORDAN'S CAPSTONE PROJECT INVITATION

   All of the CCO Fellows (one year internship in campus ministry) are required to do a Capstone Project. It challenges them to integrate what they're learning about the community, the church, and themselves and apply it in a practical way that engages college students and betters the community.  In this case it's engaging college students and our congregation. 

    Meet Recycle for Essentials. It's a capstone project that intends to get college students and FPC church goers involved in helping the unhoused downtown Fresno community. By collecting recyclables and redeeming them for cash, income is generated to buy essential items such as new socks and underwear, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dry shampoo.
 
   Beginning in March, from 9:00am - 12:00pm on the second Saturday of every month, an affordable essentials sale will take place in our Youth Building (aka the Hope Now building ). Clothing donations will be accepted, especially attire fit to be worn for an interview. All money made from the sale will go back into the budget for the following month's sale. The reason items will be sold rather than given away is to affirm the dignity of our buyers that they are able to provide for themselves within their means. 
 
   You can join college students in the project by collecting recyclables and bringing them to church any Sunday. You're also welcome to be a part of setting up and running the sale. Contact Jordan if you have questions or want to join in any way.

Posted by

Terry Jaurena

February 8, 2023