[Diocese of Los Angeles] After a multi-year process of visioning, fundraising, and enlisting the support of multiple agencies, civic groups and neighborhoods, the first product of the Los Angeles Diocese’s affordable housing initiative, St. Michael’s Apartments, Officially opened in Riverside on July 24th. A festive program featuring Native American dances, songs and celebrations.

Bishop John Harvey Taylor offered a prayer to consecrate 50 affordable housing units. All of them are now inhabited by single men and women and families with children.

Taylor praised the work of Reverend Mary Christ of the Church of Christ in responding to Bishop J. John Bruno’s call to develop a new mission at St. Michael’s Missionary Center 12 years ago. St. Michael’s Mission Center no longer maintained regular congregations, but had extensive grounds in St. Michael’s. Areas with high rates of poverty and homelessness. Christo has built communities by helping homeless people meet their immediate needs, starting with places where they can gather without fear of being chased by residents or the police. As the St. Michaels community grew, it also became a gathering place for local Native Americans. They found a champion named Christo, a registered member of the Blackfeet tribe, an employee of the Anglican Chief Bishop Michael Curry and Minister of Indigenous Education.

The new apartments were built with the help of a wide range of private and government agencies.Kyle Payne, president and co-founder of the Newport Beach-based company community development partnerI oversaw the project and hosted the opening program.

Other attendees at the ribbon-cutting ceremony represented Mercy House, which provides case management services to residents of St. Michael’s Apartments. The Los Angeles Public Housing Department (HUD) subsidizes rent for low-income residents. The State of California and the City and County of Riverside partially funded the project. Reverend Kelly Grace Kurtz, pastor of Riverside’s All Saints Church, attended on behalf of the local Anglican clergy (many of whom were also present) and congregations that have been enthusiastic supporters of the housing project.

The program also included Johnny Chacon (Apache), who came from Arizona to perform Native American dances. Members of the Singing Bird (Mescalero Apache) and St. Michael’s indigenous community dedicated songs of local blessings.

Christo said the community in St. Michael’s continues to develop and grow as apartments open and move in.

“Some people have the idea that this is free housing and temporary shelter,” she said. “But this is permanent supportive housing with case management.” Residents are already participating in Thursday morning food distribution services, she said, and are facing the challenges of poverty and homelessness. We are helping to serve people.

“Our staff have only been here for a month or two, so they get to know each other, what their needs are, and how they can work together to meet those needs. We’re starting to find out,” Christo told Episcopal News. formula. Future plans for the complex include an expanded children’s playground, community gardens, family-friendly activities, and more.

“The way we know if we’re doing it right is if Jesus walks in the door and sees what we’re doing, he recognizes us as God’s people. you see?” she said.

Bishop Taylor pointed to the importance of housing as a new kind of reciprocal service for the Anglican Church. “St. Michael’s apartment has essentially become a pioneering flagship project for our parish’s housing justice initiative,” he told News. “We have committed to building affordable housing in mission centers, missions and 25 percent of our parishes. That will be 30 or 33 projects. More efforts are underway in the Church of St. Michael’s, with at least 10 more in the planning stages through the Parish Authority, and 20 more slated for later.This dedication day at St. It is a signal event that we want to provide a haven for 5,000 neighborhood residents from .

Speaking to parishioners looking to build homes on underutilized land, Taylor said: It’s all because of the real estate available and, second, the congregation’s sense of mission to make this service a reality, inviting neighbors to come to campus and be part of the life of the community. A project like this would irrevocably change the culture and ministry of the church, he said.

He said congregations interested in considering housing services and other local services to their communities should contact Pastor Michael Bell (mbell@ecsforseniors.org). Reverend Bell became Vice Chairman of Affordable Housing and Business Development on August 1. Episcopal Community and Service, a parish institution.

“The church is making a survival decision to do a housing project,” he said. “But if you have real estate, if you have a partner in place, if you can raise the money in a way that allows you to get rental income from the land.” [from apartment rentals] To help run the church…so affordable housing may benefit your church community. ”

Click here for a video of the grand opening here.

– Janet Kawamoto is editor of Episcopal News, a publication for the Diocese of Los Angeles.