As I am sure all of us are, I am constantly struggling to discern the proper Christian response to chronic homelessness. Our faith obviously teaches us that every person has an inherent dignity that is not sacrificed when things go poorly in their lives. Our Lord certainly enjoins us to feed the hungry and cloth the naked. But chronic homelessness, which so often leads to and then is worsened by mental health and substance abuse issues, seems impossibly intractable. How do we Christians help someone who might be lost in a schizophrenic delusion? Or how can we wean someone off of a drug that is their only comfort amidst the trauma of sleeping on sidewalks?
Of course, we are incredibly proud of the work being done by Catholic Community Services (including Hope House) and Catholic Housing Services to help the underprivileged, the economically disadvantaged, and those who are going through a rough patch in their lives. CCS and CHS witness to our Catholic beliefs in a beautifully concrete and tangible way. We are also very proud of the Community Meal program which uses our gym to provide monthly fellowship and food for all people from all walks of life.
But today I want to talk about the Lighthouse Mission and Base Camp. It is to Base Camp that we send our hardest cases of chronic homelessness. It is to Base Camp that most of us would need to turn if we ended up on the street. Base Camp is the witness to homeless outreach in our city, and I am incredibly proud that it is a Christian organization. And yet, other than the recently established Bridge Church on Cornwall, we are the nearest Christian church to Base Camp, and I am sad that we do not have a stronger relationship with them.
So I have been trying to learn more about Lighthouse Mission and Base Camp, so that I can at least remain informed about what is happening only a few blocks to our south. I have found this interview with Hans Erchinger-Davis, the head of Lighthouse, to be very helpful. I have also been deeply inspired by the YouTube video series Lighthouse has put out featuring their work around Bellingham. You can find the first video here.
I recently spoke to a parishioner of ours who volunteers at Base Camp, but I would love to know if there are more, and to hear about their experiences. I do not know how, personally, to help the chronically homeless, but I know I can at least start by supporting those who seem to have a better plan than I have.
Fr. Moore 