Homeless receive access to Christ’s love and healing during COVID-19 pandemic
May 12, 2020
HOUSTON — Daily struggles continue for the homeless population that suffers from mental illness and chemical addictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations that care for this already underserved population have created news ways to offer critical programs and services while social distancing to keep both clients and workers healthy and safe.
The mission of CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to homeless men and women in Galveston. It works in partnership with other resources in the Gulf Coast community to provide guidance and structure to help clients develop a plan of action to break the cycles of addiction and despair.
It is one of 60 ministries supported by the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF) of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the programs and services offered by our ministry and how we deliver them to our clients,” said Angela Joseph, director of CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread. “At this time, we are unable to offer face-to-face services, such as mental health and substance abuse counseling, medical care, prescription assistance, and help with state identifications and birth certificates, but look forward to resuming once it is safe to do so. We continue to provide two meals daily, breakfast and lunch, clean clothing and other personal hygiene products, and mail services for clients.”
To ensure all critical needs are met, Joseph said they have identified community partners that still offer these vital services to their clients. In lieu of in-person meetings, teleconferencing may be an option.
“CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread is committed to serving those in need within our community and will continue to do so in a manner that promotes the safety of our associates, volunteers and clients,” said Joseph.
For over 30 years, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread, which is part of the CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare, has continued the legacy of its founder, the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, through the promotion of health and welfare to people in need. It is one of seven CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare missions helping to facilitate that vision. In the Galveston-Houston area, men, women, children and families of all faiths and cultures are impacted through more than 88,000 encounters annually.
Through the support of the faithful to the annual appeal, the ministry has successfully provided critical assistance to the homeless population in the Archdiocese that are most in need.
“Supporting the annual DSF, especially during these unprecedented times, means that CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread is able to continue to provide meals and other important services to the homeless in need,” said Joseph. “We are able to focus better on offering those programs and services most in need. We remain grateful for the DSF support in helping us extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to this underserved population in our community.”