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ALLIES AND PARTNERS

Why is advocacy necessary?
Why church liaison membership is necessary and how you can become a church liaison
Why is advocacy necesssary

Community Partners

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  • Pasadenans Organizing for Progress (POP!)

  • Pasadena Tenants Coalition

  • National Day Laborers Organizing Network (NDLON)

 

Faith Partners

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Churches or organizations that have partnered with us in action:

  1. All Saints Church

  2. Pasadena Foursquare Church

  3. Pasadena Mennonite Church

  4. Orange Grove Friends Meeting

  5. First AME Church

  6. Calvary Christian Center

  7. Pasadena Church

  8. Community Church at Holliston

  9. First Baptist Church

  10. First AME Zion Church

  11. First Methodist Church

  12. La Fuente Ministries

  13. New Hope Baptist Church

  14. Bethel Baptist Church

  15. New Revelation Baptist Church

  16. Neighborhood Church

  17. St. Elizabeth of Hungary Conference, Society of St. Vincent de Paul

  18. Throop Church

  19. Ahiah Center for Spiritual Living

  20. St. Andrew’s Catholic Church Social Justice Committee

  21. Lincoln Avenue Christian Church

  22. Pasadena Community Christian Fellowship

  23. Rev. Cynthia Crowell, Pastor Trinity Presbyterian Church, Pasadena

  24. Trinity Lutheran Church

  25. Westminster Presbyterian Church

  26. Knox Presbyterian Church

  27. New Abbey Church

  28. Fellowship Church

  29. The Church We Hope For

  30. Social Justice Committee at Pasadena Jewish Temple

  31. Clergy Community Coalition

  32. Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance

  33. Door of Hope

  34. Friends-in-Deed

  35. Rosebud Coffee

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Faith Member Organizations:

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Organizations that support our work through regular financial contributions:

  • Orange Grove Friends Meeting

  • Pasadena Foursquare Church

  • San Marino United Church of Christ

 

If your faith organization is interested in partnering with us, please contact Bert Newton, bert@makinghousinghappen.org.

Why is Advocacy Necessary?

There is a critical need for homeless/affordable housing and for people willing to advocate for such housing. The chronic homeless rate is increasing in Pasadena and throughout So Cal. In the 31 cities in San Gabriel Valley, where Pasadena resides, the homeless count rose 24%, from 3,605 people in 2018 to 4,479 in 2019. The Good news that Pasadena is the only city in LA County where the overall homeless count dropped by 20%. Due to GPAHG’s efforts, we have helped to approve 134 PSH units within 12 months. We feel extremely grateful to our collaboration with churches and others to help make this happen.

 

Evidence-based best practices demonstrate that affordable homes end homelessness and permanent supportive homes (PSH) end chronic homelessness. Yet, CA State policy requires that we plan for housing for all income levels, but there is no law that requires affordable housing. All affordable housing must be advocated for. Article 34 requires a public vote for affordable housing, see: https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-affordable-housing-constitution-20190203-story.html

 

When congregations understand the significant role they can play as advocates, they are often motivated to become involved.

Why is Church Liaison Membership Essential?

Why our church liaison membership is important and how YOU can become a church liaison....

We serve congregations of all faiths by helping them put their faith into practice to end the affordable housing and homelessness crisis through advocating for affordable and “permanent supportive” housing. We do this by mobilizing members of congregations at crucial times to attend city council meetings and/or write letters to the city council or other government entities. 

 

For this reason, we have developed our liaison program in which we help clergy and lay leaders identify a person in their congregation who can act as an official liaison to The Greater Pasadena Affordable Housing Group (GPAHG.) This liaison:

 

  • Attends our housing justice forums.

  • Determines the congregation’s interests, strengths and needs concerning housing 

  • Shares information and/or makes announcements at the organization on behalf of MHCH

  • Facilitates the donation of $50 or more per year from the congregation

  • Rallies 5 to 10 people from the congregation to participate in campaigns/meetings, especially as part of a rapid response when needed.

 

Our Orqanizer, Bert Newton, is reaching out to Pasadena churches interested in advocating for the solution to homelessness. Bert, an ordained pastor with Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference and biblical scholar, would love to meet with you to discuss how your congregation can be involved. 

 

Liaison members become part of a rapid response team that convenes via conference call on Friday at 7pm once the City Council agenda is out on Thursday evening. We determine, in that conference call, whether we need to activate our rapid response network in our churches.

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Bert will review with you what is involved. Once you and your church have made a commitment, we hope to come to your church to dedicate your Liaison member into this new ministry of the church.  

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