A quick lesson in futility would be to attempt to hide one’s motives. Whether they be the motives of an organization or a person, a relief agency or a corporation, a Christian or an agnostic; they simply cannot stay hidden. Additionally, not all motives are negative. As Phoebe Buffay discovered in an episode of the popular television show “Friends”: there is no such thing as a self-less act and though it is not stated, it is implied that it is okay. When it comes to poverty alleviation, this concept seems quite fitting. When an organization seeks to combat poverty, only the organizations whose motives are rooted in the Gospel have a fighting chance of success while those that are rooted in simple humanitarian efforts will find themselves in a never-ending battle.
City of Spokane and Spokane County
The City of Spokane, WA and Spokane County (also in Washington) produced a “Spokane Regional 10-Year Plan to Address Homelessness” in the winter of 2005. This plan included an extensive study of homelessness in the region, current services offered and a strategic plan with steps to implement, monitor and update. In perusing this plan, it is very interesting to note the assessment of the causes of homelessness: “For [one group], homelessness was only an unexpected expense away.” (City of Spokane and Spokane County, 2005) This is a very common occurrence in North American culture today. Whether it is living beyond the means of employment or a medical emergency, those who fit into this category find themselves homeless. Another cause of homelessness is described in this manner: “For another segment of the homeless population, mental illness, substance addiction and/or physical disability are the nemeses.” (Spokane, 2005) Beyond the depth associated with this cause, the sentence that follows reveals a deeper wisdom: “Assisting these individuals and families to find stability may require ongoing supportive services.” (Spokane, 2005) This is truly a wise statement deserving full attention while looking at the strategies of the plan:
[T]here were four strategies for each objective to which this region had the option of responding. At minimum, an action for one strategy per objective was requested. The strategies were:
• Housing
• Prevention
• Income
• Health
It is important to note that the assessment of the region and their proposed strategies are easily seen as fitting what Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert warn against: “If we treat only the symptoms or if we misdiagnose the underlying problem, we will not improve their situation, and we might actually make their lives worse.” (Corbett and Fikkert, 2009) As the region is only attempting to alleviate homelessness, they are missing the underlying issue: poor budgeting, mental illness and abuse (to name a few) and their motive of “fixing a problem” are then revealed in their lack of success.
Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners
Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP) traces its roots to 1966 and Father Frank Bach who directed the Catholic Charities of Spokane at the time. The initial task was to “...establish three community centers, in Hillyard, East Central and West Central Spokane, each with a goal of helping low-income people meet their emergency needs as well as to provide a multitude of services within those communities.” (SNAP, n.d.) Gradually, this organization has taken on many different forms and drifted from its religious affiliations eventually becoming what it is today and the mission reads: “Connecting and providing access to resources which create opportunities, with dignity, for low income people.” (SNAP, n.d.) Again, there is a bit of profound wisdom here: “... with dignity.” As the region noticed the longevity needed in working with one group of the homeless, SNAP has noticed that handouts can cause damage in attempts to meet needs in poverty alleviation. Corbett and Fikkert state: “While poor people mention having a lack of material things, they tend to describe their condition in far more psychological and social terms than our North American audiences.” (Corbett and Fikkert, 2009) Again, this is a great truth and it is quite possible that the success of SNAP over the years can be attributed to its religious birthing. However, as the organization has drifted from a Gospel foundation, its humanitarian motive is serving symptoms without addressing underlying issues.
Union Gospel Mission Crisis Shelter
Finally, the Union Gospel Mission Crisis Shelter provides an example of an organization that is as concerned with the physical needs of those they assist as they are of the spiritual needs.
Director Rich Schaus on his goals for the Crisis Shelter: “Most of these women are all too familiar with conditional love. We’re trying to give them a taste of Christ’s love, which means loving them just as they are, in the middle of their personal chaos and helping to keep them safe. Water to the thirsty. Food to the hungry. Shelter for the homeless. The basics.” (Union Gospel Mission, n.d.)
When this shelter (which serves as an emergency shelter for women in crisis) opens its gates, checks out a bunk space and welcomes a mother and her children, their goal is to not simply provide a roof but to also minister to the greater needs of those they serve. Their reader board proudly broadcasts to those in crisis, the prostitutes across the street and those who drive by that “Hope Starts Here.” This is a bold but mostly verifiable proclamation as the hope they offer betrays their motive: sharing the redemption found in the Gospel. As they do this, they fit in with Corbett and Fikkert’s statement: “We are not bringing Christ to poor communities. He has been active in those communities since the creation of the world, sustaining them ‘by his powerful word’ (Heb. 1:3).” (Corbett and Fikkert, 2009) You see, the Crisis Shelter is wrong about their proclamation of hope starting there, in that God has been working even before the gates are opened.
Conclusion
When it comes to poverty alleviation, the region of Spokane and SNAP do meet physical needs and have provided valuable service to many people. What they have not been able to consistently and completely do is alleviate poverty. Yes, they might have helped someone procure viable employment or pay their electric bill for the month, but that person is still experiencing a minimum of a “poverty of being” (Corbett and Fikkert, 2009). As the UGM attempts to meet the spiritual needs as well as the physical needs of women in crisis, they are offering redemption as they lead their leg of the journey towards hope.
References
About SNAP | SNAP. (n.d.). Serving Residents of Spokane County, Washington | SNAP. Retrieved from http://www.snapwa.org/about
Corbett, S., & Fikkert, B. (2009). When helping hurts: How to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor-- and yourself. Chicago, IL: Moody.
Crisis Shelter. (n.d.). Union Gospel Mission. Retrieved from http://www.ugmspokane.org/outreaches/womens-shelters/crisis-shelter/
SPOKANE REGIONAL 10-YEAR PLAN TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. (2005, December 9). Http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.endhomelessness.org%2Ffiles%2F612_file_SpokaneWA.pdf&ei=y7g0T8vJMY6jiAemkoCEAg&usg=AFQjCNGxrD7szgnT2hAfJ_E-XG6RZwywPA&sig2=cZbr7cCIx2rQ5vM-oQvd-g. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
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