Sanctuary and Safety

The house of worship is universally regarded as a sanctuary both
in spiritual and literal terms. The church is often sought as the last refuge for people in the most desperate of circumstances. However, as the numbers of the nation’s homeless populations have grown exponentially, many religious campuses have found themselves reluctant hosts to scores of homeless men and women camped at their doorsteps. This has led many congregations to adopt measures to discourage itinerant lodging in the interests of safety. Not surprisingly,churches and their affiliated schools, account for about 10 percent of our client roster. Short of hiring a private patrol service there are things that can be done by churches to discourage itinerant lodging on their premises.
First, the most effective way for church staff to handle the the matter is to be proactive, and to address the issue immediately whenever it occurs. As always speak respectfully, and to the point. Avoid the pitfalls of exceptions to the rule; allowing personal belongings such as bicycles,clothing bags, etc.to be stored on property. This will lead to confusion and make matters much more difficult to deal with. The goal is to communicate a clear-cut policy without misunderstanding. It is also a good idea to have a printed hand-out that spells out Church policy in regard to lodging on campus, and also to offer information about other homeless resources available in the community such as meals, shelter and mental health.

Second, prepare for the long term. Properties that have had a long-established homeless presence require time and patience to bring under control.One resource that must not be overlooked is law enforcement. Many police agencies in towns large and small now have officers whom are specialized in working with local homeless populations. Do not hesitate to call the authorities for help.