The Two Feet of Justice: The Two Feet of Justice: Works of Mercy and Works of Mercy and Working for Social Working for Social

ChangeChange

Work of MercyWork of Mercy(Charity)(Charity)

Specific needs of Specific needs of individualsindividuals

Often involves “Haves” Often involves “Haves” sharing with the “Have-sharing with the “Have-Nots” (Power Over other)Nots” (Power Over other)

Helps people Survive Helps people Survive

““Give someone a fish, he Give someone a fish, he eats for the day…eats for the day…

Restructure the Restructure the foundations of societyfoundations of society

Those traditionally called Those traditionally called “Haves” often work “Haves” often work alongside “Have-Nots” alongside “Have-Nots” (Power With other)(Power With other)

Helps People ThriveHelps People Thrive

… …but if you teach them but if you teach them to fish, they’ll eat for a to fish, they’ll eat for a lifetime!”lifetime!”

Working for Social Working for Social ChangeChange

Note: this is not to say that Works of Mercy are Note: this is not to say that Works of Mercy are not important. They are, but they are not important. They are, but they are

incomplete…incomplete…

Example – you see a mentally ill man trying to sleep on a bench will only a tattered cloth on him for warmth…

Work of Mercy:1. Is concerned with present symptoms of injustice.

-Give him a better blanket so he doesn’t freeze

Work of Social Change

1.Concerned with the underlying cause of injustice

Example – after seeing that man, you think about the process of deinstitutionalization (where, mainly in an effort to save funds, individuals who “seem” to not be of danger to themselves or others are released into society and offered support services).

Problem with that – support services get slashed all the time – after the failure of Measure 28 in January 2003, 3.2 million cut from Mental Health Budget – 10,500 lose services. 667,000 cut putting 122 people who had support beds back on streets. Medication slashed as well.

Part of a trend – most statistics say that between 25-40% of all people on the streets have some form of mental illness.

Example: On your way home from school, you see a family living in a car…

Work of Mercy 2. Focuses primarily on individual or personal

needs…-Point them in the direction of Goose Hollow Family Shelter (because they

can’t stay together anywhere else)-(Note: Goose Hollow can only take 24 families at any given time, and is

only open from November until April)

Goose Hollow

This Way

Work of Social Change

2.Concerned with challenging social structures which may be unjust

After seeing the family in the car, you begin to research city’s attempts to build more low- income housing…

You question why the Pearl District gets millions of dollars for development when the budget has “none” for refurbishing or rebuilding lower-income apartments and hotels.

Fact: Since 1978, when the Portland City Council agreed not to let any more low-income housing slip away, over 1,000 units have been lost (2000 – Northwest Pilot Project Study), forcing people to seek shelter or leave.

Example – while walking downtown, you notice an extremely intoxicated man.

Work of Mercy3. Looks for Immediate

solutions

25%-35% of all individuals on the street have some form of addiction.

Bars on Burnside St. and in surrounding area will offer a “welcome back” drink to any person bringing in an Alcoholics Anonymous Coin…

Portland is a “heroin” town because of the abundance of “Black Tar” heroin – a “hit” can cost as little as $10

Work of Social Change 3. Looks for long-term

solutionsBlanchet House for

chronic alcoholics and addicts seeking recovery – shelter and work provided during process

DePaul Treatment Center allows for longer stay for chronic alcoholics…

Problems:Blanchet can only house 18

MEN at a timeState budget lost $1.1 million,

so at least 115 people back on the streets as beds for rehab are lost

Heroin detox at Hooper only last 30 days and no resources provided when leaving…

How you can work for Social Change…

1. Advocacy 2. Political Awareness 3. Social Involvement 4. Education

1. Students have been known to be some of the strongest lobbyists in Salem and D.C. Write letters, visit Representatives, speak out.2. Be aware of the events going on around you. Read the paper or have a good internet news service. Magazines like The Atlantic Monthly, The Economist, and America are good reads to get a sense of what is going on in the world.

3. Stay connected this those on the “margins.” Think about your Christian Service and think of why we even need to do Christian Service…particularly at your site.

4. The greatest weapon against injustice is education. The more that you learn, the more versatile you become – you recognize patterns, think out solutions, critically appraise scenarios, and offer leadership. Without education, as we see from our global society, those oppressed do not stand a chance.