Support Circles Training

Can you say that you will be in unity with the members of My body? Can you release all offenses and forgive every infraction against you? ... It will be a cleansing and sweet thing and will release the power of My kingdom among you. I am about to release My manifest presence in a new move of My Spirit. I am going to bring restoration to My people, and I am about to do something that you cannot even believe at this moment. -- From Marsha Burns, Small Straws in a Soft Wind.

The Body of Christ met Tuesday for a detailed discussion of support circles as Wake County prepares to reach out to 50 homeless families in the coming year.

Roberta McCauley of Catholic Charities said county commissioners have added support circles to the 10-year Plan to End Homelessness. She provided the following statistics on how widespread the problem is, while acknowledging the statistics don't address ALL the homeless:

• On an average night, 750,000 people are homeless in the United States.
• Over one year, 3.5 million people in the U.S. experience homelessness.
• On any given night in Raleigh, 1,472 people are homeless, including 370 children and 384 veterans.
• There are 4,000 people on the waiting list for Section 8 low-income housing in Raleigh, with an average wait time of four years.

Support circles are faith-based groups of eight to 10 people who agree to help a homeless family or individual navigate life issues including financial planning, finding jobs, finding housing, getting furniture and clothing, finding child care and securing transportation. The aim is to make the families or individuals self-sufficient within six to 12 months.

With so many homeless to help, McCauley said, the top priorities will be those who have children and those who have are enrolled in life skills training from such groups as the Salvation Army and Raleigh Rescue Mission.

Those interested in support circles need to realize that every individual has value, strengths as well as weaknesses; that we respect their abilities and experiences, McCauley said.

Members of support circles must balance the need for constant communication with protection for privacy and confidentiality, she said.

A single mother who has been in the Salvation Army shelter for the past few months will be needing new housing and a support circle on August 27, McCauley said. The woman would be an ideal candidate as she is already applying for jobs and housing and has been through some skills training.

The Body of Christ members agreed to continue looking for people at various churches who might be willing to form a support circle. A group called Women-Ade that helps women in need is considering a mentoring program that might work as part of a support circle, said Cindy Boyce.

The next meeting of the Body of Christ was scheduled for Tuesday, August 8th at the Smart Start conference room.