Citygate Network's '24 Hours of Conversations on a Bench' Initiative for Homelessness Awareness

The '24 Hours of Conversations on a Bench' Initiative

• 🗓️ On October 9th and 10th, over 70 ministries nationwide will participate in an event where 70 CEOs will sit on benches for 24 hours.
• 🎯 The vision is to raise awareness about the realities of homelessness and share stories of individuals overcoming challenges.
• 💡 The initiative aims to discuss the underlying issues contributing to the epidemic of homelessness in the United States and explore Christian responses.

Citygate Network's Mission and History

• 🤝 Citygate Network, with over 120 years of history, was founded by individuals committed to living out their faith by helping those struggling with addiction, mental health issues, and alcoholism.
• ❤️ The network operates rescue missions and ministries that support vulnerable populations, including those aging out of foster care, victims of trafficking, and the marginalized.
• ✨ Their core mission is to live and love like Jesus to those who often have no one else reaching out to help them.

Addressing Homelessness: Policy vs. Compassion

• ⚖️ The discussion touches on the balance between community safety and approaches that might exacerbate the problem, particularly in light of encampment clearings.
• ❓ It questions whether the focus should be on policy or people, and on criminalization versus compassion.
• 🏘️ While ensuring policies provide protection and safety, the network recognizes that many experiencing homelessness have exhausted social networks and need safe places provided by shelters and missions.

How to Get Involved

• 🌐 Individuals can visit conversationsonabench.org to find participating cities and communities and watch the event via Facebook or YouTube.
• 🤝 Opportunities include sitting on a bench to converse with a local CEO, volunteering at a rescue mission, or making donations.
• 💖 Citygate Network relies heavily on private philanthropy and charity, with 95% of its funding coming from such sources.