Spring 2015 First Things First FIRST UNITED CHURCH COMMUNITY MINISTRY SOCIETY Reflections from First United Staff Spotlight on Property Manager Franca Sorace First United Church Community Ministry Society 320 East Hastings St Vancouver, BC V6A 1P4 Tel: 604-681-8365 Fax: 604-681-8928 If you would like to receive our quarterly newsletter, please email [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @FirstUnitedDTES Join us on Facebook: First United - Vancouver Downtown Eastside www.firstunited.ca Making Hope Possible In this issue: Feature: 1 Staff Franca Sorace Gray on 2 Stephen Social Housing Her Excellency 2 Sharon Johnston from 3 Reflections Reverend Sally Night 4 Coldest Highlights Tournament 4 Golf & Other Events Franca Sorace is the Property Manager for First United Social Housing Society. Heather Forbes sat down with her to learn more about her work and the importance of safe, secure affordable housing. What is your history with First United? I first visited Ledingham Place for a friend’s baby shower and was so impressed with the building. There were lots of families living there, and I loved the courtyard. I moved in when my daughter was two weeks old. That was July 1, 1989, and I still live there. When I moved in, I became involved in a “Nobody’s Perfect” group, started by Ariel Creighton and Geniene Elliot, who were both heavily involved in First United. Their love and guidance have impacted my life tremendously. I came to work as the Receptionist for First United Church in 1995, and became the Building Manager at Because I am a part of this Ledingham Place around 1997. In 2013, I became the community, I have been able Property Manager for all three First United buildings. to grow with it. I appreciate that affordable housing is What do you like about your work? key to maintaining a good Having safe, affordable housing gives people the life for your family. opportunity to look at improving their lives in other ways, and I think that is really important. I like that I am able to support people by making sure our housing is well run and well maintained. My tenants appreciate that I am fair and consistent. I recognize the challenges people face and try to work through them so people can maintain their housing. What is special about living in First United Social Housing? At Ledingham Place, people live there for a long time because it’s a really great building. That means we don’t have a lot of openings but we do sometimes get to transfer tenants from Jennie Pentland and Bill Hennessy, our buildings in the Downtown Eastside. We also are able to transition people from the shelter into housing, which is really great. Every Christmas at Ledingham, I put on a big Christmas dinner. It’s a total family event, because that’s how I feel about the people who live in the building. People really appreciate that, especially those who are separated from their families. We have built a really strong community. I have met wonderful people here, and they have made my life fullfilling. What is special about being part of the First United community? I am so thankful for the staff at First United. They are the heart and soul of the church. The supporters of First United are wonderful. Every year, families in housing receive hampers and Secret Santa gifts. People actually even include gifts for the parents, which is so thoughtful.These gifts make such a difference, and are so appreciated. Message from our Executive Director: We do housing too! In the early 1980’s, very much like today, Downtown Eastside residents were experiencing sub-standard housing conditions and the threat of dislocation, at that time fuelled by redevelopment plans for the False Creek area, including Expo ‘86. Staff at First United Church responded by forming a registered Society in conjunction with others from the United Church. Over the course of the 1980’s, First United Church Social Housing Society, in partnership with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the City of Vancouver, constructed three social housing buildings, two in the Downtown Eastside and one in Mount Pleasant, containing a total of 189 affordable social housing units. Throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s, the Housing Society maintained close ties with First United at the leadership and staff levels. Today, this close affiliation involves an operational relationship whereby First United Church Community Ministry Society is under contract to provide property management and staffing services for the three buildings. Housing continues to be one of the four pillars around which the Community Ministry Society bases its overall program. In all, ten Community Ministry staff members are employed within the Housing program: five full-time and five part-time. As well, both the Director of Finance and I have an oversight role with regard to these staff and the operation. Reverend Sally McShane is available for residents’ pastoral and spiritual needs, as well as memorial services and grief counseling. The Boards of the two Societies work closely together, and the President of the Housing Society was involved in the recent strategic planning process undertaken by the Community Ministry. Our funding relationship with BC Housing encompasses support for both the shelter as well as the housing program. Residents from the shelter sometimes find permanent homes in our buildings. And many of the residents of the buildings come to the Community Ministry to take advantage of programs, services and volunteer opportunities. The Social Housing community is a key part of the larger First United Community. I am very pleased that this newsletter includes a feature about Franca Sorace, an individual with a long history at First United, and one of the staff members instrumental to the operation of the Housing program. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to read Franca’s story on the front page. - Stephen Gray A Visit from Her Excellency Sharon Johnston First United was honoured to host Her Excellency Sharon Johnston in January. The wife of the Governor General presented long time volunteer Noel MacDonald with the Caring Canadian Award in recognition of his years of dedicated service in the Downtown Eastside. Her Excellency also took the opportunity to visit with women staying in the shelter and learn more about the vital supports First United offers for women at risk. It was a very special way to celebrate Noel and share our great work with such a notable guest. Clockwise from left: Noel receives his award from Her Excellency Sharon Johnston; ED Stephen Gray, Shelter Case Worker Stephanie Kallstrom, Her Excellency and Rvd. Sally McShane; Volunteer Tracy Hatchen and Her Excellency share a laugh. Reflections from Reverend Sally: “Social Justice Jesus” Jesus strides up the deeply grooved steps of the brilliant Temple in Jerusalem. Immediately he sees the money changers and the fenced off areas for the sheep and goats awaiting sacrifice and the poor lined up waiting to buy entrance to worship God. He takes a cord of rope, wraps it around his arm and, with voice elevated and passion brimming, he starts to drive the animals out of the pens. He turns over tables, throws coins, all the while proclaiming with great zeal the sanctity of God’s house. “Do you think Jesus was frustrated?” I asked the twenty three people gathered for Spirit Circle Wednesday night after recounting this story. Everyone is startled by the verbal explosion. “Jesus failed?” We all mentally taste the thought. Q’s voice: “Wait! Wait! No, by saying that, you are denying the faithful actions of millions of people who have followed him. By saying that, you reject my efforts to make a difference. You reject this church.” “Then why has nothing changed? Weapons have become more efficient. Greed rules. People are asleep. Jesus doesn’t matter anymore.” K responds with hopelessness. Others nod in affirmation. As many people lean forward about to argue the point, our wise elder chuckles. He is a man of few words. His voice always claims respect. He says, “One day when I was in prison a man handed me a Bible through the bars of my cell. I read it because there was nothing else to read. I read a bunch of words and couldn’t figure out the big deal until I realized it was in code. You just don’t get the big deal until you put your heart into it.” “But he would be silenced again.” G. answers. “What would Jesus do today?” I quietly ask. Silence follows that simple comment. “He would listen. He would teach us our own power to love and make a difference. He would encourage and challenge and name us. He wouldn’t be silent.” “No,” says J. “He was angry. As a child I was beaten. No one listened to my cries. No one was angry for me.” D. responds: “When I heard this as an adult his anger gave me hope. I felt he kicked ass. I felt if he was here today he would kick ass as well. People would listen.” I ask another question, “Does anyone feel unhappy with what Jesus did?” N. speaks up. His voice grows louder as he rises to his feet “If I was to speak to you with a strong loud voice and assertively approach your table and yell at you and push your table over would you be afraid? Did Jesus really think fear was the answer?” N. sits down again. “He would die trying… again.” was another response. “He would do something miraculous.” - Reverend Sally McShane References include: John 2:14-17; Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46 K. bursts out in response: “Then how do we wake people up? For the love of God why isn’t there a constant protest march against poverty and abuse? Do people not care? Jesus failed.” DID YOU KNOW? First United volunteers prepare over 3500 tax returns for low income people every year, helping individuals access benefits vital to their wellbeing. We are grateful to the supporters of this program, including the Vancouver-Burrard Provision Fund. * YOU DID IT! * First United was recently awarded $40,000 from the Aviva Community Fund for our Storage Facility. Thank you to everyone who voted - you made this all possible! Coldest Night of the Year was a Cool Success! Thank you to everyone who participated in the first annual Coldest Night of The Year Downtown Eastside Walk. Together, we raised over $31,000 and had a fabulously fun time. We’re already looking forward to next year! Special thanks to Event Sponsor Progressive Waste Solutions, Distance Sponsor Latham’s and Coffee Sponsor Ethical Bean, and all our volunteers, fundraisers, walkers and supporters. You’re Invited to the 8th Annual Lace Up Your Sneakers! Golf Tournament for the Homeless A fun, all ages tournament to benefit the vital programs of First United Monday May 25th 2015 University Golf Club Vancouver, BC 1:00pm Registration is $200 and includes green fees, practice balls, golf cart, lunch, dinner, silent auction and a $60 tax receipt. To register, visit firstunited.ca/golf2015 Join First United designated runner Raman Khaira for the Run & Walk for the Homeless as part of the Vancouver Sun Run on April 19, 2015. To pledge, sign up, or learn more, visit firstunited.ca/runwalk2015 Save the Date! Very Special Concert to Benefit First United On Friday, October 2 2015, the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir will host a special concert in partnership with the New Zealand National Men’s Choir at St. Andrew’s-Wesley Church. All proceeds benefit First United. More information to come but for now, mark your calendar for this special event!
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