| The Tacoma Catholic Worker provides transitional housing for single homeless adults. We live with the 5---10 guests we serve. People on the street can take showers, use our bathroom and phone, and get mail. We try to help find shelter, drug-treatment, or mental-health services. We accept no grants or government money; funds are donated.
Spring 1999 will see 9---10 Catholic Workers. Each receives a (tiny) $40/month stipend. The underfunded Washington State health plan may someday cover us too. Staff gather at morning meeting/prayer and occasional retreats. We work on political issues that impact the poor and publish a newsletter noted among Catholic Workers for occasional humor.
Each Tuesday, people of all walks of life share a meal and liturgy in our living room. This is usually Catholic mass-ish, with women or men leading. We make no spiritual requirements on guests.
We helped start a four-acre organic garden on nearby empty lots. A visitor commented that our poor neighborhood feels like a "village." How will gentrification affect it? We are working to sustain our diverse community, starting in our houses and gardens (with many hands and hearts) and growing.
"Women and accordion players get special preference--not a quota, just a goal." | Community location is placed at the center of the zip/postal code, city/state, or city/country (not based on street addresses) |
