"It is rare that one book provides a gripping, honest, unapologetic look at the lives and perspectives of individuals experiencing homelessness. Sacred Shelter does just that."-Afua Atta-Mensah, Esq., Executive Director, Community Voices Heard"Homelessness is not hopelessness-at least for the 13 individuals whose stories are told in Sacred Shelter. Personal empowerment; supportive community; God's gracious presence are highlighted as key to these stories of transformation and growth."-Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York"A powerful look beyond statistics and policy proposals, into the stories of people who have experienced homelessness. These painful, honest, and ultimately hopeful stories inspire the reader to greater empathy and commitment."-Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Executive Director, T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights"Both the Torah and the New Testament instruct, 'love your neighbor as yourself.' This books shows how real people live that commandment. Susan Greenfield has compiled stories and reflections that inspire, uplift and challenge."-Brian Purnell, Associate Professor of Africana Studies and History, Bowdoin CollegeIn a metropolis like New York, homelessness can blend into the urban landscape. In Sacred Shelter New York is the place where a community of resilient, remarkable individuals are yearning for a voice. Through frank, honest interviews, this book follows the lives of thirteen people who experienced homelessness and graduated from an interfaith life skills empowerment program. They share traumas from their youth, the devastation of homelessness, and the healing they discovered through community and faith. Interspersed among their stories are reflections from directors, clerics, and volunteers involved in the life skills program. In powerful narrative form, Sacred Shelter represents a demographic group that continues to endure systemic injustice and marginalization. By listening to individual stories, we are urged to confront our own woundedness and uncover our desire for human connection, a sacred shelter on the other side of suffering.For a Readers' Guide to Sacred Shelter Visit https://fordham.bepress.com/soc/3/Susan Celia Greenfield, Professor of English at Fordham University, is author of Mothering Daughters: Novels and the Politics of Family Romance, and of many essays and short stories.

Editor¿s Note ixBackground xiGlossary and Names of Replicate Programs Represented in Sacred Shelter xiiiIntroduction: Susan Celia Greenfield 1Life Story: Nelson Prime 29Life Story: James Arthur Addison (grad. 1993) 44Reflection: Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky 61Life Story: Black (Pseudonym) (grad. late 1990s) 65Reflection: Stephanie Reid 77Life Story: Dennis Barton (grad. 2002) 79Reflection: Dawn Ravella, DMin 104Life Story: Michelle Riddle (grad. 2003) 107Reflection: Hope 127Life Story: Edna Humphrey (grad. 2005) 130Reflection: Ira Ben Wiseman 140Life Story: Deborah Canty (grad. 2005) 142Reflection: Jane Griffin 163Life Story: Lisa Sperber (grad. 2007) 165Reflection: Reverend Alistair Drummond 178Life Story: Rodney Allen (grad. 2009) 181Life Story: Akira (grad. 2009) 200Reflection: Doug Mastin 222Life Story: Sophia Worrell (grad. 2010) 224Reflection: Terry Michaud 241Life Story: Cindy (Pseudonym) (grad. 2011) 244Reflection: Reverend Michelle Nickens 264Life Story: Heidi Nissen (grad. 2013) 268Making a Difference: Marc Greenberg 287Crossing Boundaries and Listening for Conversion: George B. Horton 295Acknowledgments 305Notes 309