The holiday season provides us the opportunity to pause and be thankful for our families, homes and other blessings.  But what about our neighbors who are homeless and may not have much to be thankful for this holiday season? 

The homeless crisis in Union County is a humanitarian issue that we cannot ignore.  Those of us providing homeless shelter and services witness the onslaught of desperation in the numbers of those experiencing homelessness that rise on a daily basis.  A leading causes of the homeless crisis is the extreme shortage of affordable housing.  Many people experiencing homelessness are working but do not make enough money to afford rent in Union County.

Once a year, in Union County and across New Jersey, we count everyone experiencing homelessness.  NJCounts 2018, the statewide point in time count of the homeless found that on the night of January 23, 2018, 459 people, including 41 people without shelter, experienced homelessness in Union County. 

Over the weekend of December 14-16, 2018, interfaith congregations in Union County, including the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Springfield, will gather to worship as part of the Homeless Sabbath Weekend.

Information about the Homeless Sabbath Weekend at Holy Cross can be found at: www.holycrossnj.com