56 Distillation Guidebook Co-Lab • 9.18–9.19 2025 Can you describe how pastors and churches are supporting folks who are housing insecure? Like most things, there are many ways the faith community supports people experiencing housing insecurity. Most commonly, congregations organize collections—hats and scarves, food drives, toiletry kits—and sometimes take on more robust efforts such as providing furniture or gas cards. A next level of support involves volunteering: many groups serve at soup kitchens, volunteer at local food banks, and even walk with street outreach teams to meet those living outside. Another thing entirely happens which folks who are housing insecure are invited in. Picture a large church door swinging wide to let in the huddled masses - much like the way I envision the great pearly gates of heaven. Churches host Family Promise families, welcome refugees, host NA/AA meetings, open weekend drop-in centers like Neighborhood House where those who stay at the nearby winter shelter come for breakfast, fellowship, church service if they’d like, and leave with a bagged lunch. These experiences tend to be the most powerful and often inspire “church” to come outside the walls. It is in these places where Christian principles come alive, show tangible, physical form through relationship, presence, and shared community. Love Thy Neighbor Abby Goldfarb Executive Director of the Lehigh Conference of Churches, responding to questions posed by ashley sparks on how pastors and churches can support people who are housing insecure.
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