Homelessness on Our Doorstep
Information on local services available:
Coalition for the Homeless:
The Homeless Engagement and Assessment Response Team (HEART)
HEART is Louisville Metro’s lead agency on homelessness. To speak to an Outreach team member please call (502) 574-5771. See their list of services here.
Central Louisville Community Ministries (CLCM)
We are fortunate to have CLCM operating in our building. They provide rental assistance and help paying utilities to try to keep families in their homes, as well as distribute personal care products, free bikes, coats, and clothes.
Calvary Food and Clothes Closet
When we donate to the Big Blue Basket at First Unitarian, it is taken across the parking lot to be distributed by Calvary. Their food pantry has been going since 1970, and continues to make an impact in our neighborhood.
Addressing Homelessness on Our Doorstep
As a downtown church, we interact with people experiencing homelessness regularly, with chronically homeless people coming to our building and grounds on a regular basis. We endeavor to be as compassionate as possible while also being cognizant of the sacredness of our building and grounds, as well as of the site of the Memorial Scattering Garden, which holds the cremains of many former members.
In light of these conflicting and complex issues, a taskforce was formed to investigate how our church would deal with this. See this document to read the report that was presented to the Board of Trustees.
Following the submission of the report, the Board approved an amendment to the church by-laws creating a standing Committee on Homelessness. The Committee is charged with developing and implementing a plan to engage with community-wide efforts to address homelessness on our doorstep, in our neighborhood, and in our community.