PHOENIX--Three of four homeless people are dependent upon faith-based organizations for food and shelter, according to a report in The Arizona Republic.
Other popularly accessed faith-based outreaches include caring for the hungry, at-risk youths, those with police records, substance abusers, HIV-AIDS victims and welfare-to-work families.
"It would be impossible to put a price tag" on the value of those services, said Darlene Newsom, chief executive of United Methodist Outreach Ministries. "Not when you count volunteer hours, food, money donations, clothing and everything else that churches do."
Faith-based organizations, ranging from large ones, such as St. Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army, to small ones, like Spirit of God Ministries in south Phoenix, are "absolutely essential" to the continuum of care envisioned for homeless individuals, said Megan Medina, executive director of the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness.
The organization lists 56 area agencies helping homeless people in some way. At least 17 are faith-based, with many others motivated by religious conviction.
