a couple of weeks ago a woman came to stay at the house with us. she had found stable housing for a time but then the program that helped her regain stability, lost its own footing. she was faced with the inevitability of returning to a men’s overflow shelter where she, a trans woman, would have to present as male. i was contacted on her behalf and later that week she came to stay with us. during her two weeks here, she talked about the hopelessness one experiences as a trans person in the job market, in the shelter system, and in society in general.  she studied for the classes she was taking at a local college, played with the house dogs, and taught us about planting winter crops. and then, she went back to the men’s shelter to be with her boyfriend as he prepared to move both of them into an apartment with money he earned at a new job. our prayers are with them both.

since our friend’s stay here, a time of serious discernment has set in. currently, five service-minded folks are living in the house. since we have to pay rent on the space we share amongst ourselves and with other homeless friends (without cost), we have a need for income. of these 5, only one of us is employed full-time at a well-paying, service industry job. in other words, we are feeling the brunt of the economic oppression inflicted by our nation’s irresponsibility and greed. we are looking around at our community and seeing our need being trumped by the destitution of our neighbors.

the work on behalf of our trans friends has been slow-moving. knowing the sense of urgency surrounding housing for these folks, makes that pace hard to accept. but it’s happening in an evolutionary way, person by person. while that process marches on, we’re making a new plea.

our economic system’s brokenness is apparent now more than ever. that systematic fracturing is also visible in the bodies of the folks around us. sick without health insurance or physicians that heal, hungry without food that nourishes, cold without utilities or clothing, and broken down by a society that has forgotten to love justice and the people who need it most; we are all desperate for mutual aide.

so our proposal is this: feed each other as the first step towards remembering mercy and cherishing justice. in the next two weeks we want to start serving meals publicly every week in decatur. give five or ten bucks, what you would spend on a meal out with friends, and we’ll buy the food and find a spot. if you feel led, we encourage you to not only make a donation but to come cook, serve, or/and eat with us. call it food not bombs meets catholic worker…the sparrow community house is taking it to the streets. stand with us, won’t you?

direct action by molly fair

not sure how to get the money to us? if you know someone currently living in the house, flag ‘em down and they will be happy to collect your donation. if you don’t, you can mail it to us:

The Sparrow Community House

2025 Cogar Dr.

Decatur, GA 30032