Friends and Supporters of the Pasadena Whitehouse Housing Initiative,
Maybe writing to you all is as much about trying to get my head around the last few crazy weeks as it is about letting you know what's happening. Actually more than anything I wanted to say thanks to all those who have offered encouragement and prayer. As much as I'm sure following Jesus calls us to follow him in some pretty crazy ways into uncharted territories, the reality is that entering into unknowns and going beyond your own resources is quite daunting. More often than not it's been the support many of you have offered that has kept us focussing on Jesus rather than the chopping waves beneath our feet. Please, please, please continue to pray for us. If you're wondering who has committed to living in the house, Sam Polglase, Kate Sare, Amanda Hillgrove, Sarah Addington, Chelsea Schramm, Matt Breen, Allie Ranson and myself are looking at moving in early March. When I say pray for us though "us" means so much more than those eight in the house. There are plenty of others involved, people who share the dream and are involved in ways that are so important. The house is about far more than simply living in community; ultimately we want the house to serve a purpose greater than community for the sake of community.
A bit of history for those who aren't quite up to speed, for a while now, a small group of young people, trained and working as youth and social workers, occupational therapists, and community workers began to dream of how we could make a difference to some of the young homeless people we encounter on a daily basis. Without supported accommodation many young people remain trapped in a cycle of unemployment, poverty and hardship with little hope of escape. We longed for an opportunity to arise where we could provide safe, stable, and affordable short-term accommodation for some young people.
Early in January 2009, a large house in Pasadena became available for rent, and the owners were generous enough to grant us access to a lease at a greatly reduced price. Our plans for this property are as follows:
· 8-10 full-time tenants united and committed in both their Christian faith and professions to serving the poor and disadvantaged will occupy and maintain the property, and develop a functioning community home. They will also be committed to covering the full cost of the weekly rent.
· The remaining rooms in the house will then be made available to persons who are in need of short term accommodation.
· Each person who seeks accommodation support will be assisted to gain support through community agencies and services in order to obtain long-term stable accommodation.
This initiative is not seeking to become a formal youth service, offering professional care. Rather it seeks to create a welcoming, supportive and safe residential community home. It is our hope that this home will support some of the young people we know who may be struggling, and help them as they work towards being able to support themselves to break out of the cycle of unemployment and poverty.
As things currently sit, we're working out between us how we can get together enough money to pay the $10,000 bond by March the 1st. I don't know exactly where all of that will come from but God has stirred too much and provided too much for us to start thinking that this is something that will stop us! Right from the outset it's been a process of God stirring, us curiously and tentatively moving, God providing and revealing His faithfulness.
If you would like further information on this project, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We continue to pray that such a community draws together like hearts.
Blessings,
Jesse Size on behalf of our Whitehouse Community
