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We mourn the loss of Phil Carrasco...On Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 11:47 AM. We received the tragic news that after being released from the VA hospital earlier, Phil's body was found under the 12th Ave. Bridge. He was well known in Lake City as an entrepreneur (vendor for Real Change), visionary and activist. Seattle Mennonite's Community Ministry may never have grown and developed if it wasn't for his advocacy, compassion, generosity and journeying with others experiencing homelessness. His 15+ years of living on the streets of Lake City makes him an icon in our neighborhood. Many are in shock and disbelief over his death as he was very much loved and appreciated. We especially think of Josie and John at this time as they grieve the loss of a partner, housemate and best friend. Below are some pictures (compliments of Ken K) from the Memorial for him held in "concrete park" near SMC.
SMC
Community Ministry Brochure -
updated October 2008
Seattle Mennonite Church's Community Ministry
Introduction
The development of Community Ministry at Seattle Mennonite
Church is an outgrowth of SMC's vision for peace and justice
as followers of Jesus Christ. SMC understands that a neighborhood's
response to people experiencing the trauma of homelessness,
is exactly that, a corporate, collaborative response. To
that end SMC seeks to partner with local residents, businesses,
and agencies in generating a grass-roots, person-centered
effort.
Our beginning…
In response to the call from the homeless community for
personal storage and transportation support, Stop, Drop,
and Roll was developed a few years back. SDR's goal
was to provide belongings storage and transportation to allow
clients access to critically needed services and employment
opportunities not available in Lake City. Stop, Drop,
and Roll was open every Thursday between 6 & 8
am and 6 & 8 pm, and was operated out of the church foyer
off of 125 th St.
Lake City currently does not provide many of the services
or employment opportunities in the neighborhood that our
clients call home. Labor Ready left the neighborhood several
years ago. The closest community clinics are in Haller Lake,
Wallingford and Greenwood, although the North Helpline Food
Bank and Emergency Services does host a free Rotacare Clinic
every Saturday morning. We have also been grateful that the
Veterans Administration has opened a Outpatient Clinic in
Lake City as well. The DSHS office that serves residents
of Lake City is in the neighborhood of Ballard, and the closest
SSA office is on Aurora, so transportation is a constant
need.
Our clients have found the service to be of vital assistance
to enable them to visit a physician, access complete hygiene
services, visit a social service agency for support, or find
employment when their lack of cash available on a given day
would otherwise make it impossible. They have found that
the baggage storage service enhances their ability to move
around town more efficiently, with less concern over belongings
left behind, and with the decreased stigma of carrying their
life's belongings on their back.
Our present and future…
On July 1 st , we moved Stop, Drop and Roll into
its new location at 12517 33 rd Ave. NE. Into a house owned
by Seattle Mennonite Church, and named by the homeless
community as ‘God's lil' Acre'. In this new location we
have expanded support services to include daily drop-in
hours Monday thru Friday, during which time people can
access: laundry facilities, showers and hygiene, community
kitchen, internet and phone access, resource referral,
food closet, storage, blankets and clothes, morning prayers,
gardening, and a safe, secure place to just ‘be'.
 
Our hope over time is that programming will be added to
the core drop-in schedule that will support the rebuilding
of relationships of support and trust so needed by people
experiencing homelessness. Recovery from the trauma of homelessness
is long-term work, and our hope is to be patient, goal-oriented
supporters of people in recovery.
Other Seattle Mennonite Church programs benefiting
homeless and low-income residents
- The congregation hired Community Ministers ,
who began their work on June 1 st , 2007. Their role is
to offer spiritual care, reaching out and engaging homeless
people, extending hospitality, and connecting people with
resources and referrals when desired. The Community Ministers
will work with SMC to develop future programs, do public
education, liaison with community partners, and develop
the resource base available to the homeless community in
Lake City.
- The SMC Emergency Fund continues to
provide funds for emergency housing, medical bills, groceries,
and utilities. The fund responds to three to four requests
for assistance each day. These funds are provided to both
low-income and homeless residents.
- Together with the Lutheran Compass Center, we operate
a house as Permanent Supportive Housing for some of Lake
City's most vulnerable residents.
- SMC hosts weekly community meals at
our church to continue dialogue with the homeless residents
of the neighborhood as well as other neighborhood stakeholders.
We continue to gather feedback, suggestions, and information
on needs and abilities in this forum. Thanks to the interfaith
support of local faith communities, these meals are provided
every Sunday.
- SMC facilitates the Lake City Task Force on Homelessness ,
which gathers each month (2nd Friday 3:30-5:00pm) at the
Seattle Mennonite Church to share insights and efforts
on ways to address the concerns of homelessness in the
Lake City neighborhood. Goals include information sharing,
strategizing, visioning, inviting participation, and collaborating.
This Task Force is a sub-committee of the Lake City Chamber
of Commerce's Development Council, and an important link
to the diverse partners needed in a neighborhood's response
to homelessness.
- Cold Weather Shelter is offered to
people when outdoor temperatures fall below 33 degrees.
We offer this shelter out of the church building.
Volunteering and Support
If you are interested in connecting with homeless folks
in Lake City, and becoming part of the community of support,
please contact the SMC Community Ministers – Jonathan & Melanie
Neufeld at seattlesdr@gmail.com or
call the church office.
 
Links to Valuable Information and Resources
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