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Christianity Today, May, 2009 |

Abolishing Homelessness in Ten Years

Philip Mangano, the federal 'homeless czar,' says, 'Yes we can.'

Interview by David Neff | posted 5/22/2009 10:27AM

During the social upheaval of the 1970s and early 1980s, American churches began putting a much higher priority on fighting homelessness. Nearly 40 years later, these food, shelter, and outreach ministries ...

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Sonya

Posted: May 30, 2009 9:29 PM


The best way to end homelessness is to stop its source: broken divorced families. Keeping marriages intact would reduce most social ills by 50% in this country. MarriageNewsNow has a great list of why marriage matters http://www.marriagenewsnow.com and you can see how important it is to the economic well being of kids and spouses.

john bord

Posted: May 27, 2009 11:59 AM

Ending homelesness is puting oneself in a God seat. When Jesus was annoited with oil and the disciples said it should be sold for the poor. Jesus replied, "You will always have the poor........" Who can really end poverty.....not any one of the world. Like you said it can be managed. What is God's purpose for having poor people. To serve God is a command. Setting up as a demi-god is dangerous water to tread on. I do laud your efforts though and pray that your work will serve God and God will receive the glory. Amen

petraon

Posted: May 26, 2009 9:30 PM

We have had relatives stay with us, sometimes for months because they were having a hard time. Sometimes for good reason and sometimes, taking advantage of our kindness. I was surprised to learn that people are still counted as homeless, even when a relative opens their home to them. Homelessness should not be a money making scheme for liberal interests. A great book to read is: "Scratich Beginnings" by Adam Shepard.

Asturiano

Posted: May 26, 2009 2:39 PM

I am impressed to see people working at root causes to homelessness. To simply say "the poor you will always have with you" is an unacceptable Christian response. While it is true, it does not discharge our obligation to love our neighbor as ourselves. Working toward an end to homelessness means getting our hands dirty. It is easy to give hand outs, but that does not bring about lasting change. But truly helping means giving of yourself, that is, giving of your time and patience and understanding. We can do that, but it will cost. You just have to deny yourself and take up your cross.

Delwyn Campbell

Posted: May 26, 2009 2:06 PM

"There but for the grace of God go I." I am intrigued by the above comments which seek to blame those who lacked the resources to survice the current debacle for their own suffering. I think that maybe God should let the entire country go down, then see what pwople like "SpeakingTruthtoCT" would say when they are watching the sheriff put their stuff on the street. If you have this world's goods and see your brother or sister in need, and do nothing, how does the love of God dwell within you? That article says nothing aboutr communistic solutions to homelessness; it talks about putting people, groups, and agencies together in such a way that resources can be maximized. Government IS people, people who have decided to take their PRIVATE convictions and work for the PUBLIC good.

SpeakingtruthtoCT

Posted: May 26, 2009 9:26 AM

In addition to what I stated before, we have proven to be blind to history. Trillions of dollars and an endless parade of “well intentioned” programs have come from the Left’s “New Deal”, “Great Society/War on Poverty” and they have failed to deliver the goods. When will we learn that materialist solutions to spiritual problems will ultimately fail. The road to hell on earth is paved with these “liberal” intentions. The attitude of expanding home ownership to people that could not afford it, policies put in place and expanded upon by the Carter/Clinton admins and the Congress created the conditions for the mortgage crisis that has snowballed into the current economic debacle we are now faced with. Therefore the folly of secular humanistic initiatives have caused more pain to more people than if we had done nothing and let market forces and economic principles hold sway. Sadly, the economic policies of the egalitarian left are founded on the violation of the 8th and 10th commandments.

speakingtruthtoCT

Posted: May 26, 2009 9:18 AM

The idea of directing PRIVATE charity and compassion to those in need is a necessary and noble one. As Christians we are called to minister to, not only the spiritual needs of man, but also his earthly needs. However, the idea of "ending" homelessness is an incredibly fatuous idea indeed. It is not an idea that can be derived from scripture or theology. Although we are called to help those in need we are not called to be God, to create a collectivist paradise on earth where characteristics of the fall are completely blotted out. After we "end" homelessness, what is next? Poverty? Hunger? War? The idea of "ending" homelessness, especially through government intervention using tax revenue, is an idea that springs out of a very different worldview. The idea is a socialist utopian, secular humanist conceit that assumes with the right people in charge, with the right policy ideas and enough money backing the agenda (money coercisively taken from others) we can do anything.

bororean

Posted: May 25, 2009 7:35 PM


John 12:8 "For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

Cindi

Posted: May 24, 2009 12:49 AM

I admit I quickly skimmed through this article... the part that caught my eye was near the end in the mention of purchasing foreclosed homes. I can imagine some of those home are in a neglected state. I would think that, if those types of homes are purchased to house the homeless that those who are physically able would do much of the restoration work, learning a few new job skills along the way that will help them re-enter the job market.

Romans1

Posted: May 23, 2009 9:37 PM


Is there a reason why you can't ask a tough or probing question?

KathieC

Posted: May 23, 2009 3:34 PM

As a pastor with The Salvation Army, our church has worked with the homeless for over 11 years in our community. As Christians, we have to let go of our agendas when it comes to the ministry of compassion. Rather than expect change, like Jesus, we need to accept them where they are at in their journey. Everyone is entitled to a safe home, whether they are mentally ill or addicted. The studies speak for themselves. When we let the homeless stay in our shelter longer than the original seven days, we have more opportunity to interact with them, pray with them and help them see the bigger issues they are facing. Then change happens. Also, it's not a matter of neglecting other aspects of our church activity. They go hand in hand. One cannot reach out to others who are hurting and help to support them in their journey, unless of course they are feeding themselves with God's word and staying close to Jesus. It's not an either/or, it's the whole meal deal.

Gary Sweeten

Posted: May 23, 2009 12:49 PM

We need a large spider web of helping churches and para church groups to deal effectively with poor people. Some must focus on addictions, some on divorce prevention, some on child rearing, some on housing, some on jobs, and some on training. No one organization can do it all but all together we can make a difference. Thank God for Mr. Mangano. Thank God for Alcoholics Anonymous. Thank God for those with healing ministries. We need all of them an may God give all of them an increase.

Larry

Posted: May 22, 2009 8:38 PM

As a pastor of a church that is very active in homeless ministry I have learned that we must purpose not to forget the up & outs while looking under the bridges for the down & outs. Jesus Himself said we would have the poor with us always. Jesus rebuked the pharasees for neglecting the wieghtier issues of benevolence, While they had thier tithing & prayer lives down to a science. I fear that we have the opposite happening now with many of or churches & believers. We are very deliberate in our outreach social causes, yet negglecting other valid issues of kingdom life and the care for the local church without which much of what is happening in missions & outreach would not happen. Jesus could also say to us, " this we should do while not leaving the other undone."

K Brown

Posted: May 22, 2009 7:42 PM

Once again, the proponents of simple government "fixes" for complex societal problems come up with solutions that sound great on the surface, but amount to essentially trying to cure the disease by eliminating the symptoms. Mangano's approach fails to adequately address the problems of addiction, mental health issues and other factors that contribute to the problem of homelessness. Additionally, his financial argument is flawed in that it implies that there is an "either-or" choice regarding emergency rooms, police, fire, etc. We will still have to maintain and fund these agencies regardless of whether we have homeless people on our streets or not. We will never get a handle on homelessness until we seriously address the dysfunctional lifestyles that are at the root of the problem.

LBRM CEO

Posted: May 22, 2009 6:56 PM

As a provider I agree that there is a place for a Housing First component, but it must be is direct concert with mandatory day-to-day case management. I am assisting a city task force on a Housing initiative and we will require the case management - that is the only way you can ensure ongoing housing outside of government supplied units. I don't believe it is the government's job to supply homeless services - it is MY job; the church's job; the local community's job. Someone once said, "the poor you will have with you always." The job will never be done . . .

paz que

Posted: May 22, 2009 5:14 PM

excellent interview. i agree. however long it takes. the intent is to end it and not manage it. apropo, some underlying philosphical interrelated food for thought: ecology ---'ecos logia'---order and design of the home life, the family whatever the species economy---'ecos nomia'--- care and management of the home life, the family whatever the species ecosophy--- 'ecos sophia'---love-wisdom of the home life, the family whatever the species from the greek and the latin: 'oikos ecos'---house, home, the home life, the family whatever the species 'logia'---order and design from the ‘grand’ logos to a community of ants or the structure of crystals or the periodic table 'nomia'---care and management from the ‘grand’ mother-father, the giving-and-regiving of the unmanifest –manifest who creates-sustains-transforms everything everywhere every moment to you and i 'sophia'---love-wisdom of the same

TonyH

Posted: May 22, 2009 5:00 PM

I agree w/ Hans. You can't help someone who doesnt want to be helped. It also depends on the goal of the agency.Is it to help the homeless or to get the homeless off the street? You could always build a prison for the homeless, round 'em all up and put em there. Would those people change if put in a "homeless" person prison? It wouldnt be a normal prison for criminals but for the homeless. I do wonder how many homeless people are mentally unstable(like some veterans), have addiction problems or just down on their luck. Ten years might sound close if your dealing w/ just those down on their luck. The ones who dont want to be helped, you have a few choices: leave them on the street, arrest them, sortof help them leaving them on the street, make it hard for them to be on the street coercing them to enter a new program of help.

Hans Erchinger-Davis

Posted: May 22, 2009 3:03 PM

With this model I can see many being helped. But I struggle with what happens when someone is housed that is actively engaged in their addiction or has unaddressed behavioral health issues (the primary causes of homelessness for men; for women they are second to domestic violence). As a homeless shelter chaplain I see many individuals who are not willing to address the underlying causes of their homelessness, and to simply house them would give them free reign to continue hurting themselves, and may in fact hasten an untimely death. As one who advocates for life on all fronts I wrestle with this. I agree that having a safe environment is essential for someone rebuilding their life, and I've seen many missions provide this safety (and some not), but it is the accountability these agencies give that ensures it remains a place of safety. I would argue that "homelessness" is more of an attitude than a physical reality, and my suspicion is that it will take longer than 10 years to cure it.

Patrick Gann

Posted: May 22, 2009 12:58 PM

This is a great article, with great information. I didn't realize Mangano used to be in the budding Christian Music scene with Larry Norman. I have heard reports (on NCR and elsewhere) that this new strategy of "getting them in a house first, THEN following up with support services" is working well. I hope it continues to work well. Jesus said we will always have the poor, but that doesn't mean that the lowest level of poverty can't be raised up from "Homeless" to something slightly better. Of course, then, we're only focusing on the USA here. Some whole nations have it worse than America's poverty-stricken families, which is a sobering thought.

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