Our shared vision: a community without hunger and homelessness.
Our core values: In everything we do, we will act in a caring, compassionate, and determined manner to improve the lives of the hungry and homeless.
Advocacy
While intervening in and addressing people’s immediate crisis is valuable, Good Shepherd Center is committed to working with other caring individuals to effect systemic change. Whether participating in regional strategic planning to end homelessness locally, educating elected officials related to local needs, or supporting the creation of affordable housing, we have an important role to play in reducing hunger and homelessness and shaping a better world for generations to come.
What is Advocacy?
- Sharing our story: Good Shepherd’s, volunteers’, and students’ experiences with those in need, articulating the extent of the problem and needed support.
- Educating elected officials—at the local, state, and national level—on the scope of hunger and homelessness and working together to identify and implement effective solutions.
- Combating myths and stereotypes about the hungry and homeless through community outreach to schools, congregations, civic groups, and others, including presentation of data.
- Voicing support for concrete strategies to prevent and address hunger and homelessness. Some examples include the creation of significant numbers of affordable rental housing units, improved discharge planning by mental health and other institutions, and adequate funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment programs.
The local housing crisis continues, especially given the destruction of Hurricane Florence in September 2018.
In Wilmington,
…50% of workers make less than $40,000 a year;
…27% of workers make less than $20,000 a year;
…we need 10,000 more units of affordable housing.