This window provides links to:
- What - Information on homelessness
- How - How to be involved in sheltering the homeless
- What Else - supplemental activities or resources that can support practicing this work of mercy found on the web
On the works of mercy:
Youth Update from St. Anthony Messenger Press on the works of mercy: http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/YU/ay0596.asp
Information on Homelessness:
Information from the National Alliance to end homelessness: This fact sheet for high school youth from the same organization includes websites for many other info sources as well as basic background: http://www.endhomelessness.org/pub/factsheets/Ushigh.pdf
Although the info sheets here are a year or two old, there is much worth reviewing from the National Coalition for the Homeless: http://www.nationalhomeless.org/facts.html Especially striking are the personal stories of being homeless
Camp Fire USA has a youth sponsored national campaign going to fight hunger and homelessness. This link provides ideas for involvement as well as a number of links to organizations on homelessness: http://www.campfire.org
The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless website includes facts and figures, ways to get involved (including e-mail alert list), speakers bureau info and more. Check it out. http://www.chicagohomeless.org/indexnew.asp
Interfaith Council for the Homeless here in Chicago. Their site (of which the Archdiocese of Chicago is a participant) includes general information as well as links under the "what you can do" button. http://www.ichchicago.org/index.htm
The document "What Have You Done to Your Homeless Brother?" The Church and the Homeless was released by the Pontifical Commission on Justice and Peace in 1987, the International Year of the Home proclaimed by the United Nations. This document has clear content reflecting on the necessity that we who are Church respond to those who are homeless. http://www.shc.edu/theolibrary/resources/homeless.htm
HOW
Does your school or parish already have outreaches to the homeless? How can the young people in your group/activity/class partner with those outreaches? How can they bring a new vibrancy to this work?
Learn about the lives of saints and Catholic heroes and those who have come before us in faith who have been about the work of sheltering the homeless and providing refuge. What can we learn about what we would do from them? Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Elizabeth of Hungary, Martin de Porres.
WHAT ELSE
This resource from Catholic Relief Services is about "safe passage" on refugees and is aimed at younger students, but has elements easily transferable for older young people. Of particular note are all the additional valuable links to refugee resources and information. Peruse this! http://www.catholicrelief.org/kids/portal/8.pdf Here's other just basic info from CRS on migration/refugees: http://www.crs.org/get_involved/advocacy/policy_and_strategic_issues/migration.cfm You may also wish to register for CRS free monthly e-newsletter for teachers and youth ministers titled "Going Global With Youth": http://www.crs.org/our_work/where_we_work/united_states/home_or_parish_based/going_global_newletter/index.cfm
Consider checking out AlertNet: Alerting Humanitarians to Emergencies, for info on emerging global needs and issues: http://www.alertnet.org/ For example, October's flooding in China, creating refugees, is covered.
Check out these parish resources from the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) on hospitality to immigrants and refugees: http://www.usccb.org/mrs/webparishactivities.shtml
This is a website linked to by the USCCB on refugee youth and childrens' services: http://www.brycs.org/
International Catholic Migration Commission: http://www.icmc.net/docs/en
Educators and Youth Ministers - get smart yourself on refugee and immigration issues from a Catholic faith perspective. Check out these publications from the USCCB:
Who Are My Sisters and Brothers? A Catholic Educational Guide for Understanding and Welcoming Immigrants and Refugees Manual designed to encourage and help Catholic parents, educators, and catechists to shape knowledge, attitudes, values, and skills so that all will understand and more warmly welcome immigrants and refugees. Publication No. 5-006 Who Are My Sisters and Brothers? Reflections for Understanding and Welcoming Immigrants and Refugees A companion piece to the manual, geared for personal and group discussion and reflection with the goal of better understanding and welcoming those from other nations. Publication No. 5-057
Who Are My Sisters and Brothers? Understanding and Welcoming Immigrants and Refugees Video An up-close and personal look at some of the human faces behind the immigration debate in our nation. Publication No. 5-053 To order any of these resources, call 800-235-8722. Provide a profile of a young person who makes a difference in the world through their commitment to shelter the homeless. Make sure you get parents' or guardians' permission. See http://www.disciplesnow.com/life/ under "Making a Difference". DisciplesNow.com is a site for Catholic teens on the web. Browse through the other profiles and see how you might use the stories there as models for the young people in your group/class/activity.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development sponsors a multimedia arts project on ending poverty - youth project. Invite your school or parish youth to take part in this as an outcome to some of the activities on homelessness. http://www.usccb.org/cchd/contestmaterials.shtml Here is another link from CCHD to educate youth people on the project theme which could be used whether or not you take part in the arts project: http://www.usccb.org/cchd/mmlessons.shtml
Investigate the Catholic Worker movement with your young people. The works of mercy are central to the aim of their lifestyle and work, and at the center of Dorothy Day's and Peter Maurin's vision. See the website: http://www.catholicworker.org/index.cfm
