In December 2015, Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies issued a report called “America’s Rental Housing.”  The news is not good for low-income families.  Rental costs are increasing and wages are stagnant which means that housing options are shrinking.  Almost half of US renters are spending more than 34% of their income on housing–meaning that they are “housing burdened.”  Here are some additional findings of the study identified by the National Alliance to End Homelessness:

• The number of available rental units is startlingly low. In the first three quarters of 2015, the national vacancy rate was at its lowest point in 30 years – only 7.1 percent.
• Rents are increasing faster than inflation. In all major metro areas in the America, rent growth has outpaced overall inflation in 2015
• Rents are rising while incomes are falling. In 2014, median housing costs for renters rose 7 percent since 2001. The median income for renter households, however, decreased 9 percent in inflation-adjusted terms in the same time period.
• More and more Americans are severely burdened by housing costs. In 2014, the number of renters paying more than 50 percent of their income on housing costs increased to 11.4 million—a record high.
• Nearly all minimum-wage workers are severely burdened by housing costs. In 2014, a full-time minimum wage worker made $15,000 per year. 72 percent of renters with incomes at or below this level paid spent than 50 percent of their incomes on housing.
• Low-income renters simply do not have enough units available to them. In 2013, 11.1 million extremely low-income renters (i.e., those earning less than 30 percent of area median income) were vying for only 7.2 million housing units that they could afford. This means there were only 34 affordable rental units for every 100 extremely low-income renters.

Use the Interactive Map to see the status of rental burden in your community.

http://harvard-cga.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=b05d4c1daa2042489bdd99b3e89a27dd&autoplay

Read the entire study HERE .

RE-READ REFLECTING ON ‘HOME’ FROM DAY 1

Questions for Reflection

1. If you were going to design your “dream home” today, how would it be different from the one you envisioned on February 10?
2. How have the 40 days of Lent changed your view of property, home, comfort, and housing for others?
3. What specific action have you taken to address homelessness or housing instability in your community?
4. How will you live differently beyond Easter 2016 as a result of your participation in this year’s Lenten Compact?  

M. Fishman and Co. currently owns 80 properties in Logan Square–most of them multi-unit buildings.  One of his most recent purchases in December 2015 is 2700 N. Milwaukee Ave.  Now, long-time residents whose current leases are set to expire are receiving 30-day notices announcing steep increases in their rents–going up as much as 70%.  Residents either have to pay it or move.  This practice [of raising rents] has occurred in other buildings purchased by M. Fishman. One person has described Mr. Fishman’s practice of “flipping” as “a way to evict people without evicting them.”

On Saturday, March 26, a number of housing rights groups and local clergy will rally in support of residents trying to fight the excessive increases.  The rally will begin at 11:00 am at Palmer Park (Palmer and Sacramento).

In the meantime, some of the residents have draped a banner on the building that reads “Mass Eviction in Progress”.

For more information, link to the DNAinfo article HERE.

Not Welcome Here (Words and Music By Brian McLaren)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo5j-Y9hiw8&feature=youtu.be

A couple showed up last Sunday at church

They hoped we could help in their spiritual search

Their marriage is legal but our leaders say

It’s morally wrong so they sent them away and said …

Not welcome here, Not welcome here.

We have our beliefs to which we adhere

It’s a dangerous world. There’s much we should fear

So people like you are not welcome here.

A family showed up at border control

“We want our kids to be safe,” they said. “That is our goal.

We’re homeless and hungry and frightened and poor

And our country is ravaged by hatred and war.” We said

Not welcome here, not welcome here

How do we know if you are sincere?

It’s a dangerous world. There’s much we should fear

So people like you are not welcome here.

A couple rode in from some other town.

The woman was pregnant. They both looked worn down.

You know how things are. What else could I say?

I shut the door tight and sent them away.

Not welcome here. Not welcome here.

You know times are tough. Please don’t interfere.

It’s a dangerous world. There’s much we should fear.

So people like you are not welcome here.

Sometimes I wonder how it would be

If the tables were turned and instead it was me

A different religion or color of skin

A refugee hoping to be welcomed in …

You’re welcome here. You’re welcome here.

You’re safe here with us. You have nothing to fear.

It’s a dangerous world, but be of good cheer.

There’s a place here for you, and you’re welcome here.

 Questions for Reflection:

1. Who is welcomed easily in our church? Who is most likely not to be received openly?
2. What would have to change to ensure that the door was opened to welcome everyone?
3. How much have you saved throughout Lent from your fast from the “comforts of home”?  Bring your gift to Easter Sunday to say “welcome” to a refugee family.

What happens when communities of color become more white?  Those who have lived there for decades are perceived to be “intruders” and “outsiders”.  Alex Nieto, 28, had lived in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco all his life.  Thanks to the recent boom in technology start-ups, the neighborhood has seen an influx of (mostly white) newcomers.  On March 21, 2014, he was identified by several white men as a “suspicious” person carrying a gun (he was licensed to carry a taser for work).  911 dispatchers sent police to the scene and minutes later, Nieto was dead–shot 14 times.

Read the entire story HERE.

EPHESIANS 2:11-20

As Gentiles, we were not included in the division of land. We were outsiders. The good news is that those on the outside have been brought near by Christ’s death. Christ has now broken down the barriers that separate so that “outsiders” now participate in the Jubilee blessings.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Are there “outsiders” today? If so, who are they?
2. We often construct fences to differentiate our property from our neighbors. However, fences often become barriers that shout, “Keep Out!” What “fences” have your erected around yourself, your home or your church that would communicate “keep out” or “not welcome”?
3. How can you communicate that Christ has removed the barriers?

That’s the question in Brooklyn, NY.  And an organization called “Right To the City” answers, YES!  Read The Atlantic article to find out why.

ACTS 4:32-37

Several of the first members of the church sold property and shared the money with the poor. The result was profound—there were no needy people among them! Some commentators have suggested that the early church was living out the Jubilee with a voluntary redistribution of wealth.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Why do you think the believers had a change in their view of possessions?
2. How might testifying to the resurrection relate to their new view of property ownership?
3. Who takes the lead in this new economy?
4. How open do you think your faith community would be to this economic arrangement?

LUKE 8:26-39

Jesus encountered a man who lived in a cemetery. The man was not in his right mind. He was possessed by a demon that had isolated him from the rest of the community. Rather than avoid the man, Jesus interacted with him (treated him as a human being) and ultimately healed him and returned him to his home.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What is your typical reaction to people live in places that are not intended for overnight accommodations—like viaducts, parks, doorways?
2. Are you more likely to avoid them or interact with them? Why?
3. Do you think people are homeless because they are mentally ill or are they mentally ill because they are homeless?
4. How can you help people avoid isolation?  

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION

In the 1980’s the state of Illinois shifted its provision of mental health services from an institutional model to a community-based model. While well intentioned (place people in community), the result was often devastating to individuals and communities because there were not enough resources to meet their needs. As a result, thousands of people who were “deinstitutionalized” ended up homeless. Veterans, suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome and inability to reintegrate into their communities also make up a significant portion of the homeless population. Last year, Chicago closed or cut back city neighborhood mental health clinics. This year, due to the Illinois budget impasse, Lutheran Social Services announced it would discontinue 30 programs. Call your state representative and senators to tell them, “Restore mental health funding!”

LUKE 14:12-14

Easter is often an occasion for family gatherings–and of course a big dinner! Jesus encouraged his followers to have an “untraditional” guest list for their special occasions.

Questions for Reflection:

1. How does your Easter invitation list stack up to those Jesus would include?
2. How will you extend your “table” to people who don’t have a table of their own?