On April 30th,  we looked at the main barriers to individuals obtaining and maintaining housing.  Wendy pointed out that individuals must have employment in order to enter transitional and private party housing.  Even those who have employment are often unable to maintain employment due to recurring issues with substance abuse, which is the largest single contributing factor to homelessness.

We discussed issues of healing, specifically spiritual healing associated with recovery.  Jim Trefil did a brief presentation on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and their relationship to the principles of the Oxford Group, a non-denominational group espousing “first-century Christian principles.”

The four “procedures” of the Oxford Group were: (1) The sharing of our sins and temptations with another Christian life given to God; (2) Surrender our life past, present and future, into God’s keeping and direction; (3) Restitution to all whom we have wronged directly or indirectly; and (4) Listening for God’s guidance, and carrying it out.

Jim discussed each of these procedures in turn, demonstrating how each related to one or more of AA’s 12 steps.  The first procedure, for example, correlates closely with AA’s 4^th (moral inventory), 5^th (admission of “exact nature of wrongs” to God, self, and another human being) and 12^th steps (carrying the message to others). 

The second procedure tracks AA’s 3^rd step, in which alcoholics make a decision to turn their will and their lives over to the care of God.  The third procedure tracks AA’s 8^th and 9^th steps, which direct the alcoholic to identify all those he has harmed, and to make direct amends to as many of these people as possible.

The fourth, and last, Oxford Group procedure is AA’s 11^th Step, in which the alcoholic carries out, on a daily basis, his decision to abandon self-will (“dying to self”) in favor of God’s will, a will he discerns through continual prayer and meditation.

Viewed in this light, Jim pointed out that AA, although it is open to all religions, has a deep Christian foundation.  The concepts of confession and restitution, or as Jim called it, a reckoning, are well known in Christianity, and following the 12 Steps might be a good course for any Christian to follow, whether alcoholic or not.

We subsequently discussed the application of the 12 steps, and how members of the Healing Place do so in their day-today lives.  Jim and Ron Smith, another Healing Place graduate, shared at length about some of the difficulties in following such a path, but both agreed that the rewards were well worth it.

For those who do find the spiritual healing needed to overcome their addiction, they often are unable to find employers who are willing to give them a job due to their job history or criminal record.  In the current tough economic times we are seeing far more clients successfully complete The Healing Place program just to find themselves homeless and jobless, sleeping in the overnight shelter. 

We talked about the role the church can play in helping to connect individuals who have successfully completed recovery programs and who have demonstrated a desire to turn their lives around.  One of the most significant ways congregations can help is to connect graduates with potential employers.  Congregational volunteers can also serve as career mentors helping job seekers surf the Internet, prepare for interviews, and preparing resumes.  However the most valuable gift the career mentor brings is hope.  Many become depressed and discouraged when faced with closed doors and rejection.  Prayer, encouragement and the fact that someone cares can make the difference between someone persevering through this difficult transition or returning to the street.

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