A Time to Speak Out Against Homelessness
Pilgrim Church in Sherborn Takes Action During Advocacy Sunday
 Inspired by the Resolution to End Homelessness in Massachusetts approved by the 203rd Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, Pilgrim Church UCC in Sherborn marked its Third Annual Advocacy Sunday this year with both prayers and political action.
According to Carole Marple, Chair of the Advocacy arm of the church's Family Homelessness Team Ministry (FHTM), Pastor John F. Hudson highlighted the effort during the worship service and Margaret Robinson, Chair of FHTM, spoke eloquently on the need for advocacy during a critical stage of the state budget process.
Adults and teens had the opportunity to write to or sign preprinted postcards to their legislators, Speaker DiMasi, President of the Senate Murray, or Governor Patrick. Each of the five different postcards urged support for a line item in the 2009 budget dealing with homelessness prevention or assistance to the homeless.
In addition, children participated by coloring house pictures printed with simple messages telling of every child's need of a place to call home. The cards were then given to the legislators.
Members were pleased to be offered a quick, painless way to make a difference, and over 60 adults participated. They also voiced appreciation of responses from legislators from previous Advocacy Sundays.
"Even the teens in the church liked being included and hoped legislators would remember their names for future issues," said Marple.
Robinson and Marple have in the past promoted Advocacy Sunday as a way to inform local legislators of the serious concern Pilgrim Church constituents have about family homelessness in Massachusetts. The two members explained why the need is so great in Massachusetts: "The Department of Transitional Assistance cites a 13% rise in the agency's homeless family caseload this fiscal year alone, and according to recent figures released by the Mass Department of Education, more than 40,000 school-age children as well as an estimated 40,000 pre-schoolers are homeless on any given night in Massachusetts."
The Mass Coalition for the Homeless states that "the number of Massachusetts families in shelter at the end of June 2006 was 1,424 and increased to 1,673 families in June 2007. This is just the tip of the iceberg, since this is only a nightly count and does not include thousands of homeless families doubled up with family and friends or staying in dangerous, substandard conditions."
"The resolution called upon local churches, associations, and the commissions of the Conference to join together with faith-based and other coalitions across the commonwealth to end family homelessness by offering direct services to the homeless while simultaneously participating in legislative advocacy to end homelessness," said Marple.
"This is a cause which inspires activism on the part of anyone with a heart, and Advocacy Sunday offers all of us a pain-free opportunity to make a difference."
For more information, contact the Pilgrim Church at (508) 655-1667 or www.pilgrimsherborn.org.
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