BEDFORD – Faith communities across southern Indiana are being called upon to explore how they can leverage their resources to support residents facing housing instability. A pivotal Faith & Housing Summit, scheduled for May 1st, will delve into practical strategies for churches and faith-based organizations to address the region’s pressing housing crisis.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1515 20th Street in Bedford. To register, click here.
The summit, hosted in partnership by Heading Home, the Lawrence County Housing Taskforce, and Prosperity Indiana, aims to foster collaboration and equip faith leaders with the tools and knowledge necessary to make a tangible difference. It will be held in Bedford and open to participants from all communities within the southern Indiana region.
Faith communities have a unique and vital role in addressing our region’s housing challenges. This summit will provide a platform for learning, sharing best practices, and building partnerships to create lasting solutions.”
The summit will explore various avenues for faith communities to contribute, including:
- Providing emergency shelter and temporary housing.
- Offering financial assistance and resources.
- Advocating for affordable housing policies.
- Facilitating community outreach and support networks.
Session Outline
- Introductions/Welcoming Remarks
- The Role(s) Faith-Based Organizations Can Play in the Housing Space
- How to Discern What Role Your Congregation Can Play in the Housing Space
- An Overview of the Affordable Housing Development Process
- Financing for Affordable Housing
- Lunch/Networking
- Panel Discussion: What You Need to Know to Begin
- Small Group Office Hours with Panelists
Speakers
- Marie Beason, Prosperity Indiana
- Josh Livingston, Englewood CDC
- David Price, Englewood CDC
- Vince Smith, Building and Impacting Communities, Inc.
Organizations and individuals looking to support the summit can contact Mary Morgan at mary@headinghomeindiana.org for more information.
This summit represents a critical step towards mobilizing the collective power of faith communities to create a more stable and secure housing environment for all residents of southern Indiana.
