Following the moving second annual memorial service in memory
of the homeless men and women who perished on the streets of the Tri-cities area, Pastor Greg Roth of Centerville Presbyterian Church was moved to take affirmative steps to reach out to this frequently unseen and often ignored population. Pastor Greg came to Fremont from a church in the Greater Los Angeles area that had a ministry to the homeless. Unsure if he was called to Centerville Presbyterian Church, he visited the church on a Sunday morning in the guise of a homeless man. Greg was taken by the warmth and hospitality he experienced from the members of Centerville Presbyterian Church and knew in his heart that this was the place he was called to be pastor.
Centerville Presbyterian Church maintains a thriving outreach ministry of which ministry to the homeless is no small part of that work. The church is directly involved in feeding, clothing and providing other social services to this most needy of populations. Visiting the church campus one Tuesday evening, I noticed a line of homeless waiting to charge their cell phones at the wall chargers on the outside of the church. Someone brought a power strip to facilitate more phones being charged at one time.
While his church lives into its ministry to the homeless, Pastor Greg felt there was more that needed to be done. Approaching Abode management and its board of directors, Pastor Greg suggested the need for an active chaplaincy to the homeless of the Tri-Cities area. Initially hesitant, Abode agreed to partner with Pastor Greg and his church to provide a street outreach chaplaincy at no cost to Abode.
Pastor Greg began the work of assembling a team of experienced 
chaplains and others who have engaged in social outreach ministry. Providing some additional training and background screening (that Abode agreed to pay for) to the volunteers, the ministry was launched in January of this year. Since the launch, the chaplaincy has had documented interaction with nearly 100 separate individuals whose lives are touched by homelessness. Chaplains have a great breadth and depth of experience and range from being ordained ministers with decades of ministry experience to lay ministers who have specific skills and experiences that enable them to effectively minister to the homeless. Regardless of the experience and background, the chaplains meet together on a monthly basis to hold each other accountable, to “check-in” about the contacts we’ve made, and to do a bit of “self-care” essential to maintain a thriving ministry.
As part of my work in this ministry I met with an individual, whom I will call “Sally” (not her real name) who became homeless due to an accident that impacted her memory. The memory loss caused her to lose a good paying job and the custody of her children. Without an income she was unable to pay her rent and, not wanting to adversely impact her credit rating, she moved out of her home before being evicted. She has lived in her car on the streets of Fremont for the last three months before she could get transitional housing and other services provided by Abode. She feels a strong attachment to her faith community but was unable to attend services while homeless because she was embarrassed and unable make herself “presentable” to the community. The simple tasks like bathing and making up our hair are impossible for most people who are homeless.
“Sally’s” story is just one of many different and unique stories the Street Outreach Chaplains have heard from the men and women impacted by the Bay Area’s chronic problem of unaffordable housing and homelessness. From my experience I’ve noted there are some immediate needs a faith community could provide to assist the Street Outreach Chaplains with their work.
We have found it is helpful to have something tangible to offer a homeless person when approaching them out on the street and in homeless encampments. This “gift” provides the chaplain an inroad to talk with the homeless person and also sets the homeless person at ease when speaking with a stranger. What the chaplains would like to do his have a store of “care packages” that are easy to carry and can be given out whenever we encounter a homeless person in our ministry activities. It is recommended the care packages contain the following items in a one (1) gallon zip lock plastic bag. Other small (travel size) items can also be included:
- Pair of warm dark colored socks
- Face cloth
- Toothbrush (sealed in original wrapping)
- Travel size tube of toothpaste
- Travel size deodorant
- Travel size shampoo
- Travel size hand sanitizer
- Travel size bar of soap
- Energy bar or granola bar
- A treat! (a pack of gum, prayer card, personal note of encouragement, etc.)
While a treat in the care package is nice, it is not essential. However, it helps remind the homeless person that they are loved and are entitled to have some of the simple pleasures of life.
I would be wonderful if a group of Saint James parishioners felt moved to take on this ministry, raising the money, purchasing the necessary items and preparing the care packages. The need for this ministry support is 24/7, 365 days of the year. If you feel called to lead this ministry, please contact Deacon Ken.
Also, if you are moved to serve as a Street Outreach Chaplain and have the special skills and abilities needed for this important and challenging ministry, please contact Deacon Ken who will put you in touch with Pastor Greg to begin the screening process. We are always looking for more chaplains to join us in the “trenches.”
Deacon Ken may be contacted at his email address, deaconken@saintj.com, or at any time you encounter him at church or in the community.
~Deacon Ken Parris