What Happens When Christians Work Together for Justice

The following article by Jim Niemi was published in the Lexington Herald-Leader on April 8, 2008, the morning after an April 7 meeting of BUILD, associated with the Direct Action and Research Training Center. Several Christians from Richmond--Pastors Bob Jones and Robert Blythe among them--attended the meeting! Andy Harnack's pastor at Faith Lutheran Church is co-chair of the organization.

COALITION WORKS TO PROVIDE FOR NEEDY: HOUSING, HEALTH CARE ARE PRIORITIES

An overflow crowd of more than 1,000 left Consolidated Baptist Church with smiles on their faces Monday night after city officials and health care providers committed to helping thousands of low-income residents find affordable housing and medical services.

An initiative of churches from across Lexington called BUILD, or Building a United Interfaith Lexington through Direct Action, brought worshippers together to seek financial aid for people who can't find or afford a safe place to live or pay for health care.

Mayor Jim Newberry told the audience that his office would draft an ordinance to help low-income home owners and renters, including those in mobile home parks, with relocation assistance and submit it to the Urban County Council. Included as part of the city's effort will be an affordable-housing trust fund.

"The demand for affordable housing in Lexington is huge," said the Rev. Adam Jones, pastor of Open Door Church. According to a 2007 government study, at least 6,691 households pay more than 50 percent of their income for rent. In addition, 20,000 households pay more than 30 percent, and Jones noted that not all of the housing is up to standards.

Funding for the trust would be left to the city. Other cities have programs in place, Jones said. "Louisville just enacted one."

Council members Jim Gray and Linda Gorton were there to support the proposal. As Newberry said, "If it isn't for council involvement, it does not happen."

Later in the meeting, prominent health care providers including St. Joseph Hospital and Central Baptist Hospital agreed to form a plan to cover health care costs for 2,000 uninsured adults each year over a three-year period beginning in 2009. Others signing on to the plan included Bluegrass Community Health Clinic, Mission Lexington and the Fayette County Health Department.

The Rev. Ron Luckey of Faith Lutheran Church said, "People think everybody has health care, but there's no continuity of care. People (without insurance) go to emergency rooms or urgent care centers with a specific problem, like a broken arm. But they are not given physical exams (to diagnose) other problems."

Affordable housing and health care were also BUILD initiatives in 2007, and they produced results, especially in health care, Luckey said. The hiring of an additional doctor at the county health department allowed 700 more appointments to be scheduled each month.

Dr. Rice Leach of the county health department told the audience that the power generated by large numbers of energized, concerned people would propel this year's recommendation even though it had been tackled before.

He recalled that when he was providing health care to Native Americans early in his career, there was a saying: "Ain't no such thing as your side of the canoe leaking.

"This time, we're going to have a bigger canoe."