The Housing Advocacy Committee is a group of parishioners concerned about the large number of homeless people living on the streets of our city and the lack of affordable housing in our community. The group is working with the Archdiocesan Housing Authority’s FAITH (Faithful Action in Transforming Homelessness) program to create the political will to end homelessness in our area. Click here to learn more about the FAITH program.

One of the group’s largest projects is developing an Action Alert Network of concerned parishioners who are willing to take action on an average of one housing alert a month. Their initial goal of 250 parishioners (or 10% of registered parishioners) was surpassed at the Housing Advocacy Training held at St. James in February 2010. Click here for more information on the network. To find out how you can get involved, click here. Information, Suzanne Lee, 206-654-4640.

To learn more about homelessness and housing, study the following resources:

• 2011 One Night Street Count.
• 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress.
• Factsheets from the National Coalition of Homeless.
• Our 2010 fact sheet on homelessness.
• Homelessness facts for King County from the Committee to End Homelessness.

Members of the Housing Advocacy Committee meet with State Senator Ed Murray to discuss the need for public funding support for affordable housing. The group is pictured here at the Frederick Ozanam House, a new permanent home for formerly homeless men, operated by Catholic Community Services.

Album: Advocacy Training, February 6, 2010

Recent Accomplishments

• Developed an Advocacy Network to include 275 participants.
• Sponsored the Mass for Deceased Homeless in 2009 and 2010.
• Met with State Senator Ed Murray to share our concerns, asking him to be an advocate for the homeless.  Provided a tour of Frederic Ozanam House to him and committee members.
• Sponsored two Advocacy Training Days.
• Participated in phone banking against I-1033 and Coffee Hour tabling in support of the Housing Levy .
• Participated in the annual St. James Ministries Fair.
• Read and discussed Radical Compassion by Gary Smith, S.J.
• Developed specific 2010 to June 2011 Goals.
• Hosted the People Without Homes: From Awareness to Action presentation.

Housing Advocacy Committee Mission Statement

We are an advocacy group to help end homelessness by raising awareness and assisting others to become involved. We do this because we believe in the inherent dignity of every person.