CONGREGATION CLUSTERS IN NEIGHBORHOODS

MUM’s participant populations are residents and faith community members from three community clusters: Allied Partners, Northside Communities of Faith, and the Greater Isthmus Group.

Allied Partners:

Statement of Purpose: Our goal is to assist our neighbors in the Allied-Dunn’s Marsh area build community and to improve the academic, physical and mental health of the residents. Our special focus is the children.

The partners are people of faith, committed to service, who join together with neighborhood residents in a common goal: to improve life in the Allied-Dunn’s Marsh area on Madison’s southwest side.  We believe we can help build community with our neighbors and help improve the spiritual, physical and mental health of us all.  We recognize the opportunity to strengthen race, class and cultural relationships in this neighborhood.  We work with service providers already active in the area, including the Neighborhood Center and Joining Forces for Families.

Programs: We operate three main programs in the neighborhood: The Wellness Center, the Eviction Prevention Fund, and the Food Pantry. We also help with other activities in the neighborhood as the need arises through Special Projects. Each of these programs has its own account and procedures.

• The Allied, Belmar, Dunn's Marsh Wellness Center has a mission of promoting holistic health and wellness for the neighborhood. It is staffed by a community parish nurse who provides individual contact as well as group programs.
• The Food Pantry distributes emergency food to residents weekly.  We have helped increase the amount of food available through contributions of food and money.  Residents assist in the pantry.
• The pantry provides food to over 5,000 individuals each year. This is increasing about 25% per year. About ½ of those served are children. If support from congregations is sufficient, we hope to provide milk, eggs and infant formula to our customers.

While most pantries have limits on the number of families served, we have never done this and we may have anywhere from 25 - 60 families on any given pantry night.

The Eviction Prevention Fund aims to increase housing security in the Allied-Dunn’s Marsh neighborhood by preventing homelessness caused by a sudden, unexpected housing crisis. People seeking our assistance are screened by the community social worker. We observe a limit of $250 per tenant per two-year period except in extreme circumstances. Priority is given to families with children.  We have helped an average of 7-8 families per month, more than double just a couple of years ago.

Special Projects covers support for other assorted efforts that help improve the quality of life and build community in the Allied-Dunn’s Marsh neighborhood on Madison’s southwest side. In particular, we help provide volunteers and money to assist with special events including neighborhood gatherings, breakfast and lunch for kids during the last two weeks of summer when other agencies are on vacation, and community events for the recognition of students who have done well in school.

If you are interested in finding out how you can become a partner, please call Madison-area Urban Ministry (608) 256-0906. For the Eviction Prevention Fund contact Joining Forces for Families office in the Allied-Dunn's Marsh neighborhood. The number to JFF in Allied is 608-273-6342. They are at 2349 Allied Drive, Apt. 123.

Northside Communities of Faith (NCF)

Northside Communities of Faith (NCF) represents about eight faith groups on Madison’s north and east side. The community is extremely diverse, with large low-income housing complexes stretching along Northport and Troy Drive, including the Vera Court and Kennedy Heights neighborhoods. There are significant numbers of Southeast Asian refugees, primarily Hmong, living here. It has representation on the Northside Planning Council.  It collaborates with many neighborhood centers and has an excellent homelessness prevention fund administered by the local Joining Forces for Families social worker.  NCF currently hosts a “Breakfast with Your Pastor” weekly near East High School.

We serve each other by developing, promoting, and/or participating in activities as people of faith.

We grow in fellowship and spirit by:

• Taking advocacy positions of moral significance to our community.
• Organizing two or more joint youth or intergenerational events per year.
• Celebrating and supporting each other through learning about each other (e.g. presentations at each meeting about the history, structure, and community projects of our congregations/denominations).
• Participating actively in the Northside Planning Council.
• Providing regular articles to the Northside News.
• Assembling a directory/joint advertising opportunity for NCF congregations and services available in the area.

If you are interested in finding out how you can become a partner, please call Madison-area Urban Ministry (608) 256-0906.

Greater Isthmus Group (GIG)

Greater Isthmus Group (GIG) has been active for three years, with about 20 congregations serving the greater downtown and central city and including parts of the Southside.  It has a representative on the Eastside Planning Council.  This cluster has concentrated on action related to homelessness and affordable housing, including advocacy for a warming house.

GIG sees housing as a social justice and a racial justice issue.  It is our moral duty to make sure our tax dollars are prioritized, so that everyone in our midst has decent and safe housing.  

JOIN GIG’S Work

Contact MUM for notices.  GIG usually meets on the third Thursday morning usually at Immanuel Lutheran, 1021 Spaight St.

GIG Goals are as follows:

1. Continue to inform ourselves and officials about Inclusionary Zoning, Trust Fund, and other housing initiatives, advocating for addressing households at 30-50% of Dane County Median, less concentration, more low-cost housing, and consideration of the region as a whole.
2. Monitor Section 8 voucher availability (writing President and Congress for more vouchers), compliance with non-discrimination ordinances and Committee.
3. Continue increasing support for Eviction Prevention, primarily through awareness and fundraising with THI who will plan and lead the fundraising efforts.4) Inform and involve members of congregations through showcasing these initiatives, resources, and the face of homelessness (utilizing speakers and a traveling display.  Broadcasting the slogan “Yes, In My BackYard!” – YIMBY!)
4. Advocate for emergency shelter for families who are homeless, especially in the winter months (Three years of successfully bringing attention in local budgets for more family shelter space and locating resources for a “warming house” for winters months).

As a result of new collaboration with private and public organizations, GIG is leading the effort to provide more low income housing, including nonprofit purchases of rental units coming up for sale.  GIG is also part of the  “End Homelessness Now” public awareness effort planned for spring 2005.