Tag Archives: homelessness

Leaders Forum: Winter Faith Collaborative

The Winter Faith Collaborative is an interfaith movement that was formed to share ideas and advocate for the houseless community. We have engaged over 40 faith communities across San Jose with the collective aim to serve and shelter those in the houseless community who are living outdoors this winter.

We have partnered with the advocacy group Housing for All Alliance, Building Hope UMC Ministry, and formerly and currently houseless individuals. We are called to temporarily house those in urgent need of shelter from the cold and rain in places of worship- as the largest El Nino storms on record are about to hit.

Since our community does not have enough beds or resources to keep our 4000 unhoused residents dry and protected, all faith communities are being called upon this especially harsh winter. The city of San Jose recently passed an ordinance waiving the permitting requirements, which allows offering shelter more feasible. With over 400 places of worship in San Jose, we each only need to temporarily take in 10 individuals to save countless lives. 

If unable to shelter there are still many ways to help- including volunteers, supplies, and funds to cover other costs. But the most compelling need is communities to open their doors, especially at night when the likelihood of lives being lost is the greatest. So far only four overnight shelters are scheduled to open this month. We hope your faith community may consider opening their doors and hearts. 

Please join the panel discussion to find out more and how to get involved. 

PLEASE RSVP to rsvp@sivicouncil.org

Speakers:

Libby Echeverria, LCSW is a clinical social worker who has worked with homeless people for over 10 years in a variety of settings.  She is also an active member of Holy Spirit Church, where one of the winter faith shelters will be opening.  Libby is passionate about working with homeless people towards health and stability, and also loves to educate and train others about the needs of the homeless population.

Gabriela Gabrian came to the US from Romania at the age of 13.  She worked for many years and had a family, but lost it all when she experienced domestic violence and a series of job losses.  She lived on the streets and drank alcohol for years, then had lung cancer twice.  After a life-changing encounter with God, she got sober, recovered her health and got housing.  She is now 7 years sober, 5 years housed and 5 years cancer-free.  She is a sponsor for many people working the 12 steps and is active at her church.

Jolene R. Jones, BA in Sociology, has worked in the affordable housing advocacy field for the past three years. She co-founded the Housing for All Alliance which is dedicated to advocacy for the unhoused in Silicon Valley. Jolene also co-founded the Winter Faith Collaborative. This is an interfaith cooperative created to house the unsheltered in places of worship in the face of the El Nino Storms. Jolene’s passion for housing the marginalized is driven by her past personal housing challenges.

Rev. Susan Smith is Pastor of Children and Family Ministries at the United Methodist Church of Willow Glen.

Michelle Covert is the Development officer for the San Jose Homelessness Response Team.

Homeless Persons’ Interfaith Memorial Service

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We gathered on Monday evening to remember those who died homeless in San José this past year and also those who continue homeless in our community. Thanks to the several religious leaders who took part and to those who braved the rain to lend their support.

Special thanks to Board Member Steve Herrera for the video.

“Exodus from the Jungle”

Last December, the city of San Jose razed the country’s largest homeless encampment located on the banks of Coyote Creek and displaced over 300 homeless people who had created a community neighborhood of tents and makeshift structures they called “the Jungle.” The Jungle’s closure was a heartbreaking scene that made national headlines with its stark contrast of abject poverty amid high-tech wealth. Housing was found for 175 people as part of a pilot project by the city but, as they watched their belongings bulldozed, many of the Jungle’s remaining inhabitants tearfully spoke of having nowhere else to go. Since that time, there has been some criticism among community members that closing the Jungle only dispersed the homeless into their neighborhoods, and others have continued to advocate for the homeless with the city and county for more permanent housing solutions for all in Silicon Valley.

A new documentary, “Exodus from the Jungle,” tells the story of that December day and the community that will never be the same. We invite you to a showing of the film followed by conversation with some of the homeless community and their advocates. Please come and learn more about the need for housing and the work to create places for everyone here in Silicon Valley.

Sponsored by Building Hope: a mission team of the Willow Glen, Almaden Hills and Cambrian Park UMCs, and the Housing for All Alliance in Silicon Valley.