Overview of Tactics

Four key annual events are institutionalized as ongoing activities to bring people together for learning, inspiration, and action, in additional to groups organizing to educate and call people to action.

Sabbath to End Homelessness (STEH)

The STEH is a dedicated weekend for individual member congregations to focus on current trends in housing and homelessness, as well as how faith communities speak to this issue and ways congregants can take action. The main tool for STEH is education and inspiration, including, but not limited to: speakers, educational forums, sermons, liturgy, etc.

Legislative Session Kick Off

Each year, members are invited to attend the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition Day on the Hill and the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless Day on the Hill, to meet their legislators and discuss housing and homelessness funding and policy.

Days on the Hill

Members are invited every year to attend the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition Day on the Hill and the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless Day on the Hill, to meet their legislators and discuss housing and homelessness funding and policy.

Annual Summit

This annual event will educate and inspire as participants hear a shared message, a speaker, a reception, music, opportunities for conversations, best practices, and have a faith component.

Service Learning Opportunities

Provide opportunities for congregants across congregations to serve together with reflection, advocacy, and faith formation.

Volunteer Trainings

Hold four trainings per year to equip volunteers, to provide a space for volunteers to meet, and gain new knowledge for working with people experiencing homelessness, in a faithful context.

Long Term Outcomes

1. Individuals and congregation engage in public policy advocacy as a spiritual practice.
2. DCEH provides a range of public policy education, training opportunities, and other activities; which take place across congregations to build deeper understanding and valuable relationships that will strengthen our interfaith collaboration and impact.
3. DCEH equips a broad and diverse base of congregation and community members with advocacy skills including: calls, letters, emails, meetings, testimony, media outreach, and other productive activities with partner organizations.
4. Participants in DCEH events grow in their public policy knowledge.
5. Congregant participation in advocacy is increased and those engaged find the effort satisfying.
6. DCEH direct service volunteers and advocates develop stories and story-telling skills to create compelling support for policy proposals.
7. Direct Service Providers retain volunteers by developing their skills and knowledge to be fully equipped to work with people (clients, friends).
8. Volunteers are engaged and building relationships across congregations.
9. DCEH’s reputation is strong.
   1. Partners and elected officials value the unique interfaith voice offered by DCEH.
   2. DCEH is perceived to be a resource to elected officials.
   3. DCEH has good working relationships with elected. officials at all levels.
   4. DCEH is a resource to the press on the issue of homelessness.