ONE-DAY HOUSING JUSTICE INSTITUTE
One-Day Housing Justice Institutes equip congregations and community leaders within a city with an overview of what it takes to address the housing crisis in their community. Typically, at the end of the day, a decision is made to start their own housing justice team.
The day provides an overview of our own housing stories, God’s story, the story of affordable housing in the US for the past 100 years — factors that have caused today’s crisis and what we have learned that works.
So far, 15 Institutes have been conducted: 5 in Colorado; 1 in Durham (NC); 7 in California: Monrovia, Temple City, Pasadena, Bellflower, Arcadia, Fullerton, Long Beach, and Placer County. In 2025 so far, one is being planned for La Cañada Flintridge on March 1st. The One-Day Housing Justice Institute in Placer County involved the County, plus several cities: Aubern, Lincon, Lumin Rocklin, and Roseville.
We explore topics tailored to the congregations in your city, such as:
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various models of how congregations are building affordable housing
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the development process
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best practices to end homelessness
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a practical theology of land use
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effective advocacy.
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provide an overview of policies
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what it takes to mobilize congregations to do housing justice.
The Placer County Institute was supported by the Placer County Community Foundation. They produced several very brief videos describing an overview of the day and testimonials. One of the videos can be accessed through Placer County Community Foundation's web page by scrolling down to "Featured Video"; another can be accessed through vimeo.
To see what the One-Day Housing Justice Institute looked like in Monrovia, CA:
Our Participants Say
"Shook’s One-Day Workshop is exactly what faith leaders in Broomfield, Colorado, needed in our efforts to advocate for and actually create affordable housing solutions in our community. Her grasp on housing policy and history in the US informed us for working with government entities. Jill’s presentation of biblical basis for housing justice fueled us for engaging our congregations and working on behalf of people who work, worship and play in Broomfield that aren’t also able to live in our community. Her tenacity to continue this uphill work inspires us to do the same."
Deb Meyer. Broomfield, Colorado