the short supply of temporary shelter for struggling families has sparked concern among advocates and churches.

Too bad it hasn't "sparked concern" among members of Congress and city officials. I don't mean to denigrate Kay Peabody's effort here, but this is our answer for homeless families? This is the best we can do? Put them in a church for a week at a time? I hope someone will tell me just exactly what this is supposed to do for the family, besides taking them off the street for a few nights? Are we providing the mothers and fathers with education? Job training? Job seeking assistance? Are they going to be able to find a job that will allow a family the $30,000 needed each year to barely keep one's head above water in today's American paradise? If we are, how are they going to make it back and forth to work every day, and who's going to help them cover the costs associated with child care, work clothing, telephones, bus passes, a vehicle and insurance until they get up and running? Meanwhile, the clock is ticking at the church. Even if you could get every church in the area to participate, the length of the stay is still finite. What happens on the last day of the last week of the last church left to "house"them? What if mommy and/or daddy have a felony conviction and no one wants to hire them? What if mommy and/or daddy have a drug, alcohol, or mental illness to address before they are able to maintain a steady job? Instead of trying to band aid the end result of homelessness, we goddam well ought to be working to prevent it; investing in the resources for and training of our citizens so they are able to "fish" every day, instead of having to bum fish from those of us who do. Look here - I often complain about handouts to anyone; whether it's the poor, the middle class or the rich. I don't really believe that people should get things given to them simply because they exist. I do believe however that if you give a man or woman the opportunity to actually make a decent life for themselves in our society, most of them will take it. We all want a little piece of the American Dream pie, it's just that policy choices over the previous 30 or so years have made obtaining a piece very difficult for those who have made mistakes or bad choices in their past. I was one who managed to "pull myself up by my bootstraps," but the straps I used to do the pulling don't even exist for folks today - they've been legislated away in our zeal to "punish" those who have perpetrated crimes in this country, stripped from government offerings in our lust to end welfare, removed from access by prohibitive costs and restricted access. How the hell do you expect a man or woman to become a "productive member of society" when society itself kicks that person in the ass every time they come knocking on the door for help? Oh, thats right, we'll send em to the church..... Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee) March 2, 2008 Sunday Kay Peabody leads network to host homeless families Erin Fuchs, Dalton Bureau NORTH GEORGIA; Pg. ng4

DALTON, Ga. -- In Whitfield County, the short supply of temporary shelter for struggling families has sparked concern among advocates and churches.

Volunteer Kay Peabody hopes to create a network of churches that will tackle the problem.

She is co-president with her husband, John, of Whitfield Family Promise, which is enlisting area churches to take in homeless families at night, a week at a time.

The program -- based on a national model -- will employ both church space and the hospitality of congregants, she said.

Mrs. Peabody spoke last week to the Chattanooga Times Free Press about the need for an "interfaith network" to meet the needs of homeless families.

Q: How did you get involved with Family Promise?

A: A representative from Family Promise came to our pastor. ... It struck a chord with me. I have a heart for people who are really struggling. ... Once we found out about Family Promise, it was like, 'This is the answer.'

Because with Family Promise, you work with other congregations, you use existing facilities. You don't have to build something. ... You don't have to reinvent the wheel. We have a volunteer base that's huge.

Q: It seems like there aren't a lot of shelters for families in Whitfield County.

A: Salvation Army has four units, but it's for very short-term and those are full. So, for women -- especially women with children -- there is nothing existing in our community to help them.

Q: You said you "have a heart" for people who are struggling. Do you remember the first time you volunteered?

A: The first time I volunteered was at the Upper Room Mission (for homeless men).

At that time, I was divorced and a single mom, and just was really at a low point in my life. ... It really did help to get my thoughts off of my problems.

Q: Is it also important to you that Family Promise helps people get back on their feet?

A: Not only is it housing, but it's to find a job so they can afford a house on a permanent basis. Plus, mentoring.

Q: Do you think it's unusual for churches to have a chance to work together?

A: It's important to me that we look not at our differences, but at the common ground that we have.

I see us being critical of other denominations ... and this is just an opportunity for us to be one in the Lord.

The program was originally called the Interfaith Hospitality Network, and that's so descriptive. Hospitality is key in this. This is not a shelter program. This is so much different. ... We are commanded in the Scripture to be hospitable.

This is an opportunity to serve these people. They are honored as our guests, in our homes -- which are our churches. ... We do not look down on them. We are offering hospitality to families who have hit a bump in the road.

E-mail Erin Fuchs at efuchs@timesfreepress.com