DEUTERONOMY 19:14; PROVERBS 23:10-11

Because land was a family inheritance, moving a boundary line was the equivalent of stealing one’s future. The law protects people—especially those who are vulnerable—from those who would encroach on their neighbors. While moving a fence line rarely happens today, decisions about zoning, eminent domain (where the government takes private property for community benefit) or water rights can dramatically change the value of one’s property—in some cases, making it worthless. For instance, the decision of the appointed Flint, MI, Emergency Manger to switch over to water from the Flint River has further devastated the city—and homes are worthless. In Picher, OK, industrial pollution has turned the small town into a ghost town. See the story (and pictures) of Picher HERE.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Given the Law about boundaries, what does that tell us about God?
2. When there is a proposal to change the way land is used or would negatively impact the value of land, what side should God’s people take? Why?

PRAYER REQUEST FOR TODAY

Today, the members of the City Plan Commission are scheduled to meet at City Hall to consider the zoning changes required for the redevelopment of Lathrop Homes. Approval of the changes will pave the way for the elimination of public housing units at Lathrop Homes. If you are able, attend the meeting beginning at 10:00 am. If you are unable to attend, please pray that God will protect those who are vulnerable.

EZEKIEL 45:1, 7-9; 46:16-18  

In Ezekiel’s vision of the future layout of Jerusalem, the Prince is to receive a section of land as his inheritance. But there are limits placed around the Prince’s power over the land. He is forbidden from taking land from others to increase his land holdings or to enrich members of his family. In other words, God’s limits the Prince’s power to correct abuses like evictions or eminent domain land seizures.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Can you think of a current example of a leader (or group of leaders) who taken property from others for his/her own gain?
2. What protections are in place in your community to make sure people are not dispossessed or displaced by those in power?
3. What are the dangers of letting “the housing market” run its course freely?

Prayer Request for Today

About 20 years ago, the Prince of the City of Chicago, Mayor Richard M. Daley, worked out a deal with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which removed oversight of the Chicago Housing Authority and the way that it spends federal funds. Since then, the CHA has amassed about 450 million dollars while turning public housing sites into mixed income communities that have eliminated thousands of units for the poor. Today, the City Council Housing Committee will hold a hearing on the “Keeping the Promise” ordinance that will hold the CHA accountable to its mission, require transparency regarding use of federal dollars, require the Chicago Housing Authority to replace units of public housing that have been lost over the past 15 years, lease vacant units, and distribute federal housing vouchers to qualifying families. Please pray that this ordinance is approved in committee so that qualifying families will have a chance access to safe, affordable housing.

A trend over the last 40 years is for young (predominantly white) artists, students and professionals to move into poorer urban communities of color in what has become known as “gentrification.” Property values increase, new capitol comes into the community, and crime rates often fall. Cities often encourage this shift because it represents development and increased revenue. However, as good as all this sounds, “gentrification” has a dark side. According to Teresa Cordova in her article “Community Intervention Efforts to Oppose Gentrification” (In Philip W. Nyden, Wim Wiewel, eds., Challenging Uneven Development: An Urban Agenda for the 1990s, (1991) New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 25-48.),

“gentrification is a creation of real estate agents, property developers, and banks who control the “who” and “where” of urban property shifts.”

In other words, those with power see a way to profit through a shift in the way urban property is reused. In addition, as property values increase, property taxes and rents rise, often making the community unaffordable for existing homeowners and tenants. Families are forced to find a more affordable community. It also promotes speculative land purchases as people look for the next “hot” neighborhood. Buy a cheap property, hold on to it and then flip it for a large profit. We are watching this this phenomena happening in Logan Square—especially along the Bloomingdale Trail. What was once an affordable community for immigrants and low-income families has now become the most recent “hot neighborhood” in Chicago.

This process of “re-urbanization” (and subsequent “sub-urbanization” and “ex-urbanization” of the poor) is happening across the country.  Millennials–many who grew up in suburbs and who are seeking community connections, walkable communities, and a vibrant night life–are being targeted by developers.  In Logan Square, a vast majority of new housing developments are studio and 1 bedroom units and are marketed to single people or young couples.  There is little room for families, and few of the units are truly “affordable.”

MICAH 2:1-2

All of us live on land that did not belong to us or to our ancestors but was taken by force or fraud from its original inhabitants. The American experience is built upon the foundation of the displacement and resettlement of indigenous peoples because “we had the power to do it.” We still see people using power to displace others through “speculative real estate deals”, “urban pioneering” and “gentrification.”

Questions for Reflection:

1. What does it mean for a person to “have power” especially as it relates to housing?
2. Are you a person with power? What power do you have?
3. How can people of faith “plot good on their beds” rather than evil in relationship to real estate and housing?

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION

A trend over the last 40 years is for young (predominantly white) artists, students and professionals to move into poor urban communities of color in what has become known as “gentrification.” Property values increase, new capitol comes into the community, and crime rates often fall. Cities often encourage this shift because it represents development and increased revenue. However, as good as all this sounds, “gentrification” has a dark side. According to Teresa Cordova in her article “Community Intervention Efforts to Oppose Gentrification” (In Philip W. Nyden, Wim Wiewel, eds., Challenging Uneven Development: An Urban Agenda for the 1990s, (1991) New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 25-48.), suggests that

“gentrification is a creation of real estate agents, property developers, and banks who control the “who” and “where” of urban property shifts.”

In other words, those with power see a way to profit through a shift in the way urban property is reused. In addition, as property values increase, property taxes and rents rise, often making the community unaffordable for existing homeowners and tenants. Families are forced to find a more affordable community. It also promotes speculative land purchases as people look for the next “hot” neighborhood. Buy a cheap property, hold on to it and then flip it for a large profit. We are watching this this phenomena happening in Logan Square—especially along the Bloomingdale Trail. What was once an affordable community for immigrants and low-income families has now become the most recent “hot neighborhood” in Chicago. What could your church do to ensure that families can still call Logan Square ‘home’?

We are fasting to provide homes for others.  Fasting leads us to ACTION!  This week, take your fast to 2 important actions to ensure that struggling families and individuals will have safe, affordable housing.

1.  Attend the “Keeping the Promise” ordinance hearing on Wednesday, February 17, at City Hall starting with a 9:00 am Press Conference.  Add your voice to the call to hold the Chicago Housing Authority accountable to its mission–providing housing for the poor.
   

   Over the past 15 years, thousands of public housing units have been torn down to make room for “mixed-income” communities.  The CHA promised to replace all the units that had been destroyed, but they have not kept their promise.

   In addition, thousands of public housing units have been left empty throughout the city–including over 750 units at Lathrop Homes.  But the CHA continues to receive $10,000 annually for each of those empty units from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.  (The CHA receives no oversight from HUD thanks to an agreement between former Mayor Richard M. Daley and the Clinton administration.) Meanwhile, 1000’s of families languish on CHA waiting lists.

   Passage of the “Keeping the Promise” ordinance will give the City Council oversight of the Chicago Housing Authority and force the CHA to keep its promises to the people of Chicago.

2. Attend the city Plan Commission meeting on Thursday, February 18, at City Hall starting at 10:00 am.  Help to make sure that the Lathrop Homes Planned Development (rezoning) application is not considered at this meeting.

The planned redevelopment of Lathrop Homes cannot proceed without changes in the zoning of the property.  1st Ward Alderman, Joe Moreno, has publicly promised to hold up the development until the Chicago Housing Authority demonstrates ‘How’, ‘When’ and ‘Where’ it would replace the 525 units of public housing that would be eliminated at Lathrop Homes.

However, the application is currently on the agenda of the Plan Commission, the first step toward passage.

If you cannot attend these important meetings, PRAY that God will speak powerfully through those who give testimony and will turn the hearts of our elected officials toward justice and mercy.

 

REFLECTION ON ‘STABILITY’

Growing up I lived on the same street, in the same house, in the same room from birth until I took off for college at 18.   Not only that: it was the same neighborhood that my Mother, and her Father (my Grandfather) grew up in. This formed my understanding of home. For many years home, for me, was synonymous with consistency, sameness, and uniformity. Growing up I also had the chance to travel. When I was 4 years old, we drove from Iowa to Vancouver Island, Canada and I still remember that trip, especially Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.   When I was 6 years old, my grandparents begin volunteering in their retirement as missionaries on the border of Texas and Mexico, and we would go for a few weeks every year.   Many weekends we visit family in various parts of the Midwest. And parts of each summer were spent at the family cabin in Fairbault, Minnesota. It was during these trips, explorations and adventures that I felt full of life, excited and ready to learn new ways of living and being.   Home became the place where I was, the people I was with, the ways God guided me to grow and flourish.

– Submitted by Rev. Paula Cripps-Vallejo, Pastor of Humboldt Park United Methodist Church, Chicago

Questions for Reflection:

1. How many times did you move before you turned 18?
2. If you moved more than 3 times, how has frequent moves impacted you? 
3. If you moved less than 3 times, how has ‘housing stability’ impacted you?
4. If you were going to “move home,” where would that be?

REFLECTING ON The Similitudes 1:1-10

The Shepherd of Hermas, writing in the 2^nd Century, reminded his readers that the servants of God live in a “strange country” far from their true home of heaven. Given our alien status, it makes little sense for believers to collect possessions, fields and houses. Hermas suggested that whatever believers had beyond what was sufficient for their needs was for the needs of widows, orphans and the poor. God gave his people more than enough for the purpose of generous giving—not for adding to their “comforts of home.”

Questions for Reflection:

1. What is the last purchase you made for your home? Was it “necessary?”
2. How do you decide when you have “what is sufficient”?
3. What—if any—objections do you sense when you read The Similitudes? Why?

There is no devotional for Sunday, February 14.

REFLECTING ON ‘HOMELESSNESS’

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines homeless people in 4 categories: 1) individuals or families not having a fixed, regular or adequate night time residence or who sleep in shelters or public places not designed for overnight accommodations, 2) individuals or families who will lose their housing within 14 days if they have no subsequent residence identified, 3) unaccompanied youth or families with children who have moved more than 2 times during the last 60 days, 4) individuals or families that are fleeing domestic violence, dating violence or stalking if they have no other residence.   Individuals and families that share living quarters temporarily are actually considered homeless.

The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless estimates that almost 128,000 people were homeless in Chicago at some point in 2015. Over 50% of those experiencing homelessness were families with children. Analysis by the National Coalition For the Homeless shows that poverty and homelessness are inextricably linked. A growing number of people simply cannot afford to live in a house or apartment.   Low-wage jobs, part time employment and chronic unemployment are major contributors to the problem.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Do you know anyone who would fit into any of the categories of homelessness?
2. If so, what have you done to help them?
3. What would happen to your housing if you suddenly lost your job, experienced a catastrophic illness or experienced divorce or death of a wage earning spouse?
4. What would you do?
5. What would you want those around you to do to help?

In just a few days, we will shower our significant others with flowers, candy, gifts and food and wine as part of our annual observance of Valentine’s Day.  In the process, we are expected to spend close to $20 billion (with a ‘B’).  That’s a lot of LOVE!  But what if we took just 1% of that to “love our neighbors as ourselves” this year?  We could free up $200 million and give hundreds of people the gift of home.

How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day? Consider spending just a little less and giving the money you save toward our Lenten Compact project to ‘make a home’ for a refugee family.

REFLECTING ON ‘PROPERTY AND OWNERSHIP’

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Thus says the US Declaration of Independence.

There has been much discussion about the origin and meaning of the phrase, “pursuit of happiness.” Most historians believe the founders were strongly influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights also written in 1776, which states, “… all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights…namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”

From the beginning of our nation, acquiring property has been considered essential to one’s well-being (happiness), and home ownership is considered the access point to the “American Dream.”

Questions for Reflection:

1. How has “the American Dream” influenced your decisions and life goals?
2. Has property ownership been a part of your definition of “the good life?” Why?
3. What do you think happens socially and economically when acquiring property is held up as an “unalienable right” “endowed by our Creator”?
4. Do you think God has an opinion about the “right” to pursue happiness in this context? What might it be?