"Churches are empty overnight," said the Rev. Roger Anderson, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. "We can use them. We should do this."
"This" is opening the doors of area churches and synagogues and the hearts of their congregants to homeless families.Under the auspices of the fledgling Salt Lake Interfaith Hospitality Network, congregations would adopt homeless families. They'd get to know them, shelter and feed them in the churches and help them find jobs, housing and other basic needs.
Homeless families, with up to 14 members total at a time, would stay in a host church overnight. Volunteers from the congregation would provide a meal, recreation or study assistance and friendship and breakfast.
In the morning, children would be taken to their schools and the parents taken to a day center (most likely a church willing to provide space permanently) where they would be helped with job hunting, housing and programs like utility assistance and job training. After a week, a new congregation would take over the hosting duties.
The number of churches signing on to the network is impressive. About 40 people, representing community groups, churches and government entities, showed up at a recent planning meeting.
Earlier this week, Methodists, Mormons, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Greek Orthodox, Church of Christ members and others joined hands in a prayer of thanksgiving for the concept and the energy to make it come about.
The churches have pledged time and talent in a cooperative effort they believe will impact the community, while changing lives. Other churches have offered support and donations but don't feel they're able to serve as hosts.
It's not a new concept. The idea was first put into practice in New Jersey in 1986. Two years later, a formal interfaith hospitality network was formed. Since then, it has spread across the country, and more than 500 congregations now have active programs that have already served more than 17,000 homeless families.
The hospitality network is not just about housing, either. The lobby of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church was packed recently with donated items brought by the members. Everything from blankets and clothing to toys and baby bottles. When the pieces are in place, the church plans to be ready.
Linda Caywood and her daughter Amy brought two handmade quilts - their "Christmas in July" project. Caywood said it's hard to do anything extra at Christmas, so her family puts all their spare change in a jar throughout the year, then in July they empty it out and choose a project. This year they made the quilts, which will be used to cover children's beds in whichever church is hosting the homeless.
At least 70 percent of the guest families nationwide have found permanent homes, in large part because of the assistance provided by congregations. One fourth of the families have found jobs. (More than 60 percent of the families have at least one family member working when they enter the network.)
Most families stay in the program from six to eight weeks. Before they're allowed to participate, they're screened, and people with substance abuse or psychiatric problems are excluded.
Salt Lake's network is not yet ready to take in families, but it hopes to have everything tied down by January, said director Vicki Neu-mann.
In the meantime, the network is collecting bedding, cots, office equipment, baby furniture, toys and - it hopes - a van with a licensed and insured driver to provide transportation to and from the churches.
For information, call Bob or Vicki Neumann, 942-2075.