Jerico's Solidarity Sleep Out

I've worked for Shalom Community Center for roughly four years now doing field social work as an outreach caseworker. In that time I've been part of an amazing team of people who fight daily against a dehumanizing system that wants us to accept that because people have complicated lives they deserve to die in the streets. This is not hyperbole. Since the beginning of 2019 we have seen two members of our community die alone during extreme temperature drops. Two powerful souls who were loved by many and who at very least deserved the dignity of sleeping inside, lost their lives in tragic and preventable ways. 

In 2016, Shalom took over management of A Friend's Place emergency shelter.  In that time we have seen the shelter become a place of respect, collaborative goal setting and healing. A Friend's Place, aside from being the only shelter option in Bloomington without religious obligations, is thought by many of my current and former clients as having a quality much like a family.  A Friend's Place is effective in placing the majority of their clients into stable housing situations. A Friend's Place staff change lives. A Friend's Place staff save lives. Since 2016, the City of Bloomington has earmarked an operations budget for this critical resource. This period is quickly running out and we as a community are needing to fill this need. 

On Friday, April 26th, we are raising funds during our Solidarity Sleep Out. If you can, please consider sponsoring me so that we can make sure this critical, life saving resource can continue to keep vulnerable members of our community safe. The shelter needs our help to be there for people when they need us the most. Would you consider helping me help others find their way home?