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* PAGE 2 — The Georgia Bulletin, February 19, 1987 Homelessness Is "In" As A Congressional Priority BY LIZ SCHEVTCHUK WASHINGTON (NC) — Homelessness is in as a congres sional agenda item these days because so many Americans are out — out freezing in the gutters, out of shelter, out of hope. Estimates of the numbers of homeless range vastly — from 600.000 to 6 million — with Los Angeles claiming some 31.000 alone, according to a 1984 federal study. Mayors describe cities filled with more homeless: families, the unemployed, workers who can't afford hous ing, the mentally ill turned prematurely out of treatment centers — in short, more need for shelter everywhere. Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young learned the extent of the problem firsthand when he spent 36 hours, in winter's cold, disguised as a homeless man. i passed some of my good friends," Young reported later. "1 asked one of them for a quarter for a cup of coffee. I knocked on his car w indow as he was leaving the church — and he didn't even want to look at me." Churches plead that they cannot handle the influx of homeless besieging church shelters, rectories and other possible refuges. Now, the House and Senate both seem inclined to support stronger efforts to solve the national crisis posed by lack of shelter. This interest, however, comes after years of federal budget cuts and even housing boondoggles perpetrated with the blessings of Congress. Father J. Bryan Hehir, U.S. Catholic Conference secretary for social development and world peace, noted to a Senate subcommittee Jan. 29 that Congress in 1980 ap propriated $30.8 billion of President Jimmy Carter's $33.3 billion fiscal 1981 budget request for housing programs. For fiscal 1987. it appropriated only $7.8 billion, which was nonetheless an increase over the $2.3 billion that President Reagan said would be enough. "That is a 75 percent reduc tion in housing aid," Father Hehir said. Meanwhile, developers of a luxury-class apartment com plex in Chicago got Congress to change the rules so a lovv- ART STUDENTS • Discover Your Talents • A.C. GOREJA Now accepting applications from art students who want to become true imaginative artists with universal classic reference. You will learn to perform excellence through your own artistic abilities. Goreja Studio 5600 Roswell Road, The Prado, N. Building, Suite 277 Sandy Springs • Tel: 847-9057 GEORGIA BULLETIN Ads Bring Results! Ti^cui 2 /4*utU4te€uC RAINT & SUPPLY Complete Line of Supplies 41 Marietta St. ■■H' rSfi 4314 Roswell Rd., N.E. Alpharetta, Ga. 30201 Atlanta, Ga. 30342 442-5819 255-6661 “WE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS'' REGAL AquaVelvet A LATEX EGGSHELL FINISH ■ Saves time, money and effort ■ Excellent coverage ■ Outstanding color selection ■ Durable smooth finish ■ Stands up to repeated washing ■ Easy cleanup with soap and water \m^A] VJJVINTSJ Sale $16 Per Gallon — Custom Tints Slightly Higher interest federal mortgage would be obtainable and to waive a law requiring them to provide low-income units with the more lucrative apartments for the affluent. According to one report, the developers won at least $67 million worth of local and national government favors. All of that notwithstanding, this year Congress speedily passed and sent to Reagan legislation to transfer $50 million of federal funds from one budget category to another to pro vide emergency shelter relief yet this winter. “There is no doubt that this money is urgently needed, especially in light of the severe winter,” Sen. Alan Dixon, D-Ill., said after the bill's passage. “At the same time, we need to put a structure into place which will bring some con tinuity to the programs which serve the homeless." He introduced an Emergency Housing Act of 1987, to pro vide $120 million for fiscal 1988 housing and shelter pro grams, including new efforts to provide transitional living arrangements for the homeless and efforts to help them live on their own in the future. Under his bill, further federal funds would be available as well if states or local jurisdic tions provide matching allocations. The House was drafting its own proposals, too. On Jan. 6, the first day of the new Congress, Rep. Mickey Leland, D-Texas, a Catholic, introduced the Homeless Per sons Survival Act of 1987. Leland said it would provide a variety of services, including food assistance; physical and mental health care facilities; permanent housing programs for the poor; community residences for the mentally ill: shelter for parents with babies, for youths, and for homeless of all ages needing emergency housing; and education geared toward homeless children. Various services of those types were recommended in testimony to a congressional subcommittee Feb. 4 by Father Edwin M. Conway, treasurer of Catholic Charities USA and administrator of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Catholic Church and other churches, of course, have been talking about the housing and homelessness crisis for a long time. Like Father Conway and Father Hehir, Auxiliary Bishop Eugene Marino of Washington, Cardinal John J. O'Connor of New York and Archbishop Philip M. Hannan of New Orleans all have urged government attention to the plight of the homeless or poorly housed. ‘The problem of homelessness is growing.” Bishop Marino said in 1984. “The (economic) ‘recovery' is not reaching the homeless. Our resources are being stretched to the breaking point." “Because of the magnitude of the resources required, the funding of low-income housing must be primarily a federal responsibility," Cardinal O'Connor informed lawmakers in 1985. “Termination or reduction of funds for housing ... will greatly aggravate a critical situation," Archbishop Hannan added in 1986. Jamaican Concerts Return To Parishes Stirring reggae rhythms and spirituals from the people of the Caribbean will be presented in “Celebration of Life" con certs to be held next weekend at several schools and parishes. The concerts are given by a touring group from the island of Jamaica, led by Father Richard Holung, a Jamaican priest who has composed spirituals and transposed liturgical music to Jamaican folk and reggae beats. The traveling group is made up of young men and women who volunteer their time to bring the music and the spiritual richness of the Jamaican poor to the people of the United States and Canada. Last February concerts at Immaculate Heart of Mary parish and Holy Cross parish in Atlanta cross ed many barriers of culture and tradition and won friends Sunways CUSTOM TOURS WITH BUDGET PRICING A Charter buses with restrooms. ★ Invite us to talk to your group FROM IATLANTA,GA 297-9233 I TO ALL THE USA ★★★★★★★ vil*vu Funiral Directors OVER 100 YEARS OF DIGNIFIED SERVICE H. M. PATTERSON & SONS SPRING HILL 876-1022 OGLETHORPE HILL 261-3510 1020 SPRING ST NW 4550 PEACHTREE RD \E CASCADE HILL 344-3610 3610 CASCADE RD SW GREEN LAWN 876-4311 1270 SPRING ST NW Mt Mil ft II ISaVIlAIIOM Q N A HO HAL siucno MOAflCUDS and hearts for Father Holung and his ministry to the poor. This year the concerts return to those two parishes, but new concerts have been added. On Thursday night, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m., a concert will be given at the auditorium at St. Pius X High School. 2674 Johnson Road, N.E., Atlanta. On Friday night, Feb. 27. a concert will be given at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, 2855 Briarcliff Road, N.E., Atlanta. On Saturday, Feb. 28, a concert will be held at Holy Cross Church, 3175 Hathaway Court, N.E. Atlanta. And on Sunday, March 1. a concert will be held at St. Jude's Church. 7171 Glenridge Drive, Sandy Springs. All concerts will begin al 7:30 p.m. Father Holung looks upon the concerts as a bridge be tween the First and Third World. In addition to bringing necessary financial support to projects for the poor and homeless and imprisoned in Jamaica, the concerts bring the spirit and joy of the Jamaican people to the cities of North America. Father Holung has spoken as a missionary at both Holy Cross and Immaculate Heart of Mary parishes in the past. All are invited to the concerts. A $5.00 donation will be requested for adults, $3.00 for students at the St. Pius con cert. St Bernard Retreat Center Benedictine Monks Of Saint Bernard Abbey Lenten Retreat for Adults March 13-15, 1987 Holy Week Retreat for Women Religious April 16-19, 1987 Holy Thursday - Easter Sunday Confirmation Retreat for Youth May 9-1(1, 1987 Eucharistic Retreat May 15-17, 1987 For more information. please write to: RETREATS St. Bernard Abbey 1600 St. Bernard Dr., S.E. Cullman, AL 35055 or call: (205)734-8291 - Br. Joel % ♦ « m « % * *
