A church is a sanctuary, a place where people can safely ask for help, support, guidance, or information. Many people find their way into the offices of the church seeking assistance, both financial and emotional, for problems arising from a basic need for decent, affordable housing. The church has a fund that assists people with rent, mortgage payments, fuel bills, insurance bills, emergency repairs, and other unforeseen expenses. The Pastor works closely with each person to ensure that all available sources of support have been exhausted before a grant is made. Referrals are made to local and state agencies.
The types of help that we have been able to facilitate for people in the community range from a few hundred dollars for an emergency repair to a few thousand dollars to help with a security deposit or a down payment on a new home. The goal of any intervention or assistance is to maximize the impact while maintaining both the dignity and confidentiality of the recipients. In a small community like ours, people are often reluctant to step forward to ask for help. Our mission, as a church, is to Love God and Love our Neighbor. For us, our faith is lived out when we can help a neighbor find decent, affordable housing.
Salisbury Congregational Church is deeply committed to maximizing community resources to ensure that every person in Salisbury has a place to call home.
Rev. Diane Monti-Catania is the Pastor of Salisbury Congregational Church.
This article was published in The Lakeville Journal on 5/18/16.