GNUUC: Emergency Shelter and Living Our Mission
THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LOVE
IS OUR CORE BELIEF.
WE EMBODY A SANCTUARY
OF COMPASSION, INTEGRITY, AND RESPECT.
WE CHAMPION
JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND PEACE.
For me, the first time I heard of K and his need for emergency shelter was on April 22nd at the GNUUC board meeting, although others in Social Action and leadership had already begun plans for GNUUC to provide sanctuary - a place of refuge and safety - to a new member of our community in desperate need.
The last month has seen bursts of activity tempered by the quiet calm that comes with waking up in a safe space. We have learned quite a bit during this time, and we are in a better position than before to serve individual members of our broader community who find themselves in temporary need of emergency shelter.
On the evening of Tuesday, April 20th, Katie W. reached out to GNUUC requesting assistance. She had “an immigrant friend seeking political asylum after being persecuted for being gay in the Ukraine.” Although a Nashville relative had originally agreed to act as a sponsor, the conflict between the relative’s fundamentalism and K’s homosexuality created great conflict. The note asked, “Would you happen to know of anyone who has a room he could rent for a small fee or any other access to housing?”
The answer, of course, was “yes.” The next question was, “how?”
Kris T. sent the email to Nathanael R. and Doug L., Nathanael and I (wearing my “Building and Grounds” hat) discussed the aspects of using GNUUC as an emergency shelter and the limitations to this use. Doug discussed the situation with the rest of the GNUUC Social Action group, and communication lines were defined and put into use.
Issues:
Could GNUUC service as a temporary emergency shelter without a shower and other standard living facilities?
What is the minimum requirement for the building’s use?
Would GNUUC or its members be responsible for any additional support of Katie’s “immigrant friend?”
Do we have financial or legal obligations to consider?
Would support include groceries, transportation, or anything else outside emergency shelter?
Could an individual member of the congregation provide emergency shelter instead?
Without legal financial obligations, could GNUUC provide any financial support?
Two days later (!!), after communication between GNUUC and Katie, Nathaneal and Doug, Nathanael and Rev. Cynthia, Doug and Social Action, the board reviewed a draft policy under which the congregation could provide emergency shelter to those in need.
After which, events started to move more quickly.
Preliminary tangible assets were discussed and included:
Emergency housing accommodations in the main church building.
Allocation of money from the Minister’s Discretionary Fund in regard to a future housing deposit and three months of partial rent support.
Potential access to a rent-reduced apartment space.
Katie let us know her friend would be returning from San Diego, his place of entry to the United States, on Saturday, April 24th, and would be in immediate need of a place to stay. As the physical requirements of providing emergency shelter made themselves known, others stepped in to help. Laurel S-S agreed to meet Katie and her friend, K, at the church on Saturday evening. Sandy B., with Larry B., met her there and helped set up a mattress, light the stove and oven pilots, make sure water was turned on, installed an emergency smoke/CO2 detector in the sanctuary, brought towels and blankets and very basic emergency provisions for someone to move in on very short notice. Sandy even noted the local police department should be notified that someone would be living in the building for a period of time, as our grounds are routinely patrolled.
This is when we, finally, began to learn more about K. He is 31 years old, and he grew up in Iran. He studied dentistry and had graduated. He realized, as a gay man, he was not safe there. He made his way to Mexico, the US border near San Diego, and to Nashville, by himself with what he could carry. He has accepted and left several jobs since moving into GNUUC, the last of which provided transportation to and from work but demanded 12-hour shifts at least 5 days a week (and preferable 7). He has spoken to lawyers regarding his asylum status and continues to work through the complicated process established by parts of the government through which requests for permanent residency must travel.
This is where we are today. I had dinner with Kiarash last Tuesday and will have dinner with him tonight at the church. It’s been nice to cook in the kitchen again, after so long of an absence. I think we could, as a community, reach out more at this time and get to know Kia better, now that he’s settled and knows he is safe.
Intangible assets provided by GNUUC include:
A quiet and safe space to sleep
A quiet and safe space to wake up
A roof over one’s head without religious obligations or expectations of service or payment
Friendship and support
Kia continues to express gratitude to me and to the congregation for letting him stay with us. Did I mention he knows Persian, Russian, and English? Maybe more; I’ll ask tonight!
I will share this expression of gratitude with all of you because it is the entire congregation that makes this possible. We are “that kind of church;” the kind of church that is not afraid to make decisions and move out of our comfort zones and move past what we cannot provide, to focus on the good we can do.
More to come - please send me your questions and feedback.
Caren Spencer-Smith