with Michael Shapcott

Most of us would agree with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness that we need “a practical community-based approach that shifts the focus from managing homelessness, to a system focused on ending it. We need to move from crisis responses (like shelters and soup kitchens) to solutions – permanent, appropriate, safe and affordable housing with the support necessary to sustain it.” What role do churches and people of faith have in ending homelessness? In this course we’ll look at homelessness and housing insecurity, at the federal government’s promise in 2017 to spend $40 billion on a national housing strategy, at how people of faith and churches have been active across the country and over the years and we’ll hear about the emerging national faith and housing network. And we will take up the words from theologians Steven Bouma-Prediger and Brian Walsh: “Home. Homelessness. Longing for home. Ours is a culture of displacement, exile and homelessness.  Socioeconomic homelessness is growing with many people seeking adequate housing. Ecological homelessness is increasing, with its sense of alienation from a degraded and defiled earth. And a profound spiritual homelessness pervades postmodern culture…” Be prepared to be inspired and engaged in one of the most important issues of our time.