Homeless Issue #97

“I want a world that when a chicken crosses the road no one questions its motives, and we all feel safe, secure, understood and loved..”
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Hey all,
I’ve been spending some time in prayer and meditation as of late and one thought keeps reoccurring.  The city that I love, the town I’ve called home, Placerville, is actively waging war on the poor, disadvantaged and homeless in the community.  I know, I know, that sounds dramatic, and over the top hyperbolic.  But it is true.  In just a few months the actions of the Placerville Police Department have managed to diminish, or completely curtail, the efforts of advocates that have ministered to, cared for, fed and clothed the destitute, and needy in El Dorado County for years.
The City of Placerville has, indeed, cleaned up the streets; but at what cost?  At the cost of human dignity?  Justice?  Compassion?  Sadly, it seems that the city I love has chosen the façade of a poverty free aesthetic over people.  A strategically placed police sub-station, constant confrontation and harassment, frequent detainment and, ubiquitous “No Loitering” signs are ostensibly the city’s only solution to poverty and homelessness.
Historically, when injustice (or plain ole lack of compassion if you prefer) rears its ugly head, the church has responded.  My question is, for us, in this point in history, in our little place in the world, is there an appropriate way the church should respond.
I know summer schedules are chaotic but, is there a way in the coming weeks that we representative of the local churches can meet to discuss if or how the church can respond?
Pastor Frank J. Gates
Cold Springs Community Church
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General coverage of that meeting:
As the result of the extended time of little to no concrete actions by the City and County to meet  the needs of homeless people, citizens born here, this group gathered to brainstorm ideas, discuss the variables affecting the chronic homeless folks in Placerville (and to an extent the wider Western Slope), and form action items.

Variables: