There is a strange, nonsensical phrase about charity that we say almost exclusively in church. Whenever we talk about doing direct service, I hear this phrase: "Feeding the homeless." People say it without blinking. 1/12
If you said "clothing the hungry," or "giving the naked a drink of water," people would look at you funny. But we will say "feeding the homeless" all the time. Because addressing the primary need, the thing that defines homelessness, is almost unthinkable. 2/12
During the housing crisis, it was often pointed out that there were more houses sitting empty due to foreclosure than there were homeless persons in the United States. And still, people talked about "feeding the homeless." 3/12
Land—real estate—and a place to exist free from harassment has long been part of the biblical call to justice. Isaiah 5:8 describes the evil of gentrification. A safe place to live is Micah's view of the kin-dom (4:4). 4/12
20th Century America convinced much of the church that capitalism was the key to the kingdom. You don't hear church folks talking about housing the homeless because it would require political action: land reform and wealth redistribution. 5/12
Housing first policies recognize that not having a safe place to exist and store your stuff makes ALL of life harder. Makes it harder to eat. To stay on medication. To fight addiction. To save money. 6/12
It's fascinating how our language betrays us even as it makes certain things un-think-able. Most of us don't consider how we've criminalized simple acts of living, like going to the bathroom in public. 7/12
Where else are you going to pee if you don't have a bathroom and businesses won't let you in? 8/12
The social cost of all of this is enormous. It would be cheaper in health care costs, policing, criminal justice, and the well-being of society if we just gave people homes. 9/12
I just want church people to think of this the next time they utter the phrase "feed the homeless." Think about what we are saying, and how the assumptions of our society limit what we expect or believe is possible. 10/12
And consider that lots of Christians oppose government assistance and wealth redistribution because they WANT people to be dependent on church charity. Charity is how they justify their political stance. **It also shuts down talking about #reparations.** 11/12
"…they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken." (Micah 4:4)
Addendum: None of this is meant to knock all the amazing and essential ministries that DO actively feed hungry people, many of whom are homeless.
