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
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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!