Housing Justice

As one of Unity’s Community Outreach Ministry Teams, the Housing Justice Team, recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every human being, seeks to hasten the day when every person has safe, affordable, quality housing regardless of class, zip code, race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, or other category. Home is foundational to individual and collective health and well-being. 

December Update

Habitat for Humanity
You may know that Unity Church participates in a “summer build week” with Habitat for Humanity. You may not know that Habitat welcomes volunteers year round. If your circumstances allow you to be free one weekday, and you enjoy working with your hands or think you’d like to try, Habitat would be glad to hear from you. Unity member Dutton Foster has been a member of a year-round group, the St. Paul Regulars, which works on build sites on Thursdays. Rest assured that no experience is required; site supervisors find tasks appropriate to each volunteer’s skill level. Questions? Contact Dutton at duttonfosters@comcast.net. Whether you want to try one day, occasional days, or regular participation with the St. Paul Regulars, you’ll be welcome.

Project Home is bustling!
If you have questions about these opportunities, please contact Donna Franklin, Project Home shelter Manager, at dfranklin@interfaithaction.org or Unity member Janice Gestner at janicemgg@comcast.net.

Holiday Dignity Shop
Bring unwrapped gifts to Provincial House for children from age 0-18years in the $15-$25 range. Parents can then choose two or three gifts and wrap them. Or, you can volunteer to watch children while their parents “shop.” Or be a set-up elf! Gifts accepted through December 20.

Serving Meals
Project Home is looking for volunteers to serve meals as part of their weekend meal teams. Serving shifts are available in Saint Paul at Provincial House for lunch or dinner on Saturdays and Sundays. Sign up to volunteer or create a team of 3-6 people. Supervised older children are welcome to sign up.

Winter Gear Adopt-A-Family
Adopt a current Project Home family and provide winter gear, such as new coats, boots, hats and gloves/mittens. (New items only.) Ready to help? Sign up to find a family to adopt.

Reminder: We Changed Our Name!
Our new name is the Housing Justice Team. After much reflection, our team decided “Affordable Housing Team” did not encompass the complexity and scope of our purpose. And the intersection of safe, quality, equitable housing with racial and environmental justice is profound. If you’re curious about our work, please check out our monthly online meeting (the second Tuesday of each month from 4:30-5:30 p.m.). Please contact Judy Miller for the Zoom link or with questions, jmkmam@comcast.net. 

The Housing Justice Team is an umbrella, including three teams focusing on housing justice public policy, development of deeply affordable housing, and providing direct service to persons who are unsheltered, homeless, struggling with unstable housing, and in transition. 
 
We partner with community agencies in each of these three areas. Collaborating with three partner organizations reflects the important needs of our community.

POLICY

Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative 

SHELTER AND SERVICE

 Project Home​​

DEVELOPMENT

Habitat for Humanity
Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, Gladstone Crossing 

We believe we have a mandate and a calling to live out our values by moving the needle on the complex issue of equitable housing. We believe housing is foundational to well-being and dignity.
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We meet on Zoom on the second Tuesday of the month from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Come check us out! Contact Judy Miller for the Zoom link at jmkmam@comcast.net.