Group Discussion Questions
Faith And The City Forum: Interfaith Dialogue on Public Issues

Topic/Title: Homelessness: Faith Community Programs and Perspectives
First Aired: June 17 at 7:30 AM

Faith And The City Forum is one of several initiatives by Faith And The City, a nonprofit organization that works to encourage a sense of community throughout the 20-county metro Atlanta region by amplifying the voices of the many religious traditions represented in the region.

Panelists:

Ms. Margie Telfair
Community Housing Specialist
Families First

Ms. Wendy Lipshutz
Project Connect
Jewish Family and Career Services

Mr. Stan Dawson
Executive Director
Crossroads Community Ministries

Ms. Khayriyyah Faiz
President
Sisters United and Human Services

The following questions are offered to encourage discussion of the above topic.

1. What do you see as the root causes of homelessness? They may include: poverty, domestic abuse, racism, gender discrimination, inadequate education, and/or others.

2. Is homelessness an issue that faith communities should be involved with?

3. Is your faith community engaged with this issue? If so, why? If not, why?

4. Are faith communities doing enough to address the issue of homelessness? What should they be doing that they are not?

5. Are our governments -- local and federal -- doing enough? If not, what more should they do?

6. Should government agencies and faith communities work together? How do you feel about federal funding for faith-based organizations serving the homeless population?

7. What are some of the ways that individuals can address this issue -- both within and beyond their respective faith communities?

8. One panelist described a partnership across faith traditions, with Muslims and Baptists working together to minister to homeless families. What advantages or disadvantages do you see in interfaith collaborations in this area?

9. A panelist noted that there are thousands of congregations in the Atlanta metro area and suggested homelessness could be eliminated virtually overnight if every congregation adopted one homeless family. What do you think of this plan? Is it practical and, if so, how would it work for your congregation?

10. Has this program or the associated discussion of the issue led you to any new ideas, insights, or resolve regarding this issue. If so, what will you do differently?
There is a quick and easy way to express your view on any public issue to our elected and appointed leaders: You can find email addresses for hundreds of leaders from the local to the national level by visiting the "contacts" section of our website at http://www.faithandthecity.org. Why not email your views to your representatives in city, county, state, or federal government? You can do it now by clicking here.