Living into our Commitment as a Matthew 25 congregation….For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in...
Overview
The WRPC Session, in its January meeting, approved WRPC renting the 4 bedroom “Brick House” at 2505 Vanderbilt Ave adjacent to our church to refugees and immigrants at a reduced rate. This will have direct impacts on the critical concerns of affordable housing and refugee support in our area. This work is being made possible by commitments of members of WRPC to contribute additional monies to address the income shortfall in our operating budget when renting to refugees/immigrants at a reduced rent. Gratefully, we have had $18,000 in contributions which will largely cover the expected revenue gap over the next year.
Updates
Cleaning and Painting Signup in July
To get ready for our new tenants/refugee family, WRPC will clean and paint interior rooms of the Brick House July 17-24 and then complete a final clean July 30-31
New flooring is being installed July 25-29 in the kitchen and basement along with possible refinishing of some of the hardwoods on the first floor
Please use this SignupGenius to indicate dates you would like to help.
Family Update
We expect the new refugee family to move in between Aug 1 and Sept 1.
USCRI (the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants) typically gets a 1-2 week advance notice of an arriving family they then work to place in an apartment.
The previous Afghani family of 10 we were tentatively expecting is able to stay in their existing housing so USCRI will place a different family in the Brick House.
Donations
USCRI will collaborate with another group to provide the furniture and housewares through Green Chair and to stock the kitchen and provide the first few meals for the family. The cost to do this is now about $1,000 so this will save money and efforts on our end which can go into cleaning and painting!! WRPC members who want help with the initial pantry/food set up or potentially have additional furniture to contribute can still assist in this way, if desired. Bob will work with Mark Zaineddin/WRPC’s Welcome Home Group and others in the church who have been interested in coordinating the set up of the family in the house. As we get closer to a potential move in date Bob/Mark will reach out to WRPC members to share ways you can assist.
We would love to have a washer and dryer in good working condition donated for the family to use. Please contact Bob if interested. Bob has a truck and can pick up/deliver.
Bob Grant is serving as the site manager for the Brick House while renting to refugees/immigrants. He will check in with the family, coordinate support, and oversee/facilitate maintenance and repairs. Please reach out to Bob or office@wrpc.org with any questions, suggestions or offers of help.
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