The Deacon

A tearful mom hugs volunteers who furnished her home and made beds for her family. She can now be reunited with her three children who have been in foster care.

A young couple and their infant are astonished when volunteers furnish their apartment after hardships endured living in a cardboard box in the woods.

A group of us volunteered in a homeless shelter for 25 years, hoping that our guests would be able to move into housing on their own. But we often saw the same faces daily, which filled us with despair. There seemed to be no solution except triage. Hopelessness set in, for all of us.

One day, a director of religious education asked me to talk to a group of eighth graders about homelessness. I asked a homeless man, Al, to join me. The students really connected with Al, and a few weeks later the DRE gave me $750 the students had raised to get Al into his own place. I had no idea what to do.

As the weeks went by, the DRE called me over and over, wondering where Al was living. I panicked! I had to get the DRE and the students off my back. Out of desperation, I told Al if he found a place he could afford, we’d use some of the money for a security deposit and the rest for a bed. It worked. Over the course of three years I spoke to other groups of students who raised money to help more people off the streets. I thought that that’s the future — through those catalysts, students filled with the Holy Spirit.

But The Holy Spirit admonished me: “If eighth graders can do this why aren’t you as a deacon doing more? Why aren’t you spreading the seeds I gave you? The talents I gave you, you are burying them in the ground!” I did nothing because I thought I had plenty of time; besides, it seemed too complicated and expensive.

Then, cancer struck. It was time to do something or die trying.

Easy Model

Those students were the catalyst that encouraged me, by the grace of God, to initiate this easy-to-implement model, which we call Off The Streets, which includes donations of basic furnishings and nongovernment funds from our communities. There are no paid staff or offices/expenses and very little overhead. Here’s how it works:

● We rely on screened referrals from local homeless services agencies.

● The agencies find suitable housing the tenants can afford.

● We help with a security deposit, as needed, to the landlord (that’s often a significant barrier to permanent housing).

● We take gently used, basic furnishings, transforming an empty space into a home.

● We do this with respect and love to restore dignity and hope.

Since 2009, Off The Streets chapters have been formed in 10 cities across five States (California, Connecticut, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington) under an umbrella 501(c)(3). This is not a pie-in-the-sky ministry. We’ve road-tested it over 15 years and have helped about 10,000 people into permanent housing.

As clergy we often outreach within our communities. Sometimes outreach consumes us in one-on-one or one-on-many ministries. But we also have a tremendous potential to introduce our parishioners to a ministry that can tap their potential in a profound, lasting way, with the many-on-one charisms of a group of parishioners to tackle the demeaning nature of homelessness, one person, one family at a time.

For example, Father Tim Sahd, a pastor in Middletown, Pennsylvania, witnessed Off The Streets as a parochial vicar in Lancaster. When he became a pastor in another city, he became a catalyst, placing just one announcement in a bulletin, inviting parishioners interested in helping the homeless to a meeting. Thirty parishioners attended — standing room only in the church library! Within two months of the bulletin, a chapter was formed, and within six months 150 people had been moved into permanent housing — just because Father Sahd served as a catalyst focusing the God-given graces of his parishioners in solving the unsolvable problem of homelessness — one person at a time.

In York, Pennsylvania, Deacon Bill Autrey tells us: “God has built into humans a desire to help others. However, people often don’t know how to get involved. Off The Streets gives the faithful this opportunity.” Deacon Bill, acting as a catalyst, invited four parishes to attend an informational meeting — and so began the creation of our tenth chapter.

A transitional deacon last year, now Father Drew Tanguay, said: “The name Off The Streets illustrates a singularity of mission not unlike the corporal works of mercy. In my first move with Off The Streets, we helped a woman into her new home. The simplicity of our job, however, did not stunt its far-reaching implications. With a house and beds to her name, she was able to reunite with her children who had been placed in foster care. As with the Holy Spirit, Off The Streets does one thing, but the fruits of the labor are plentiful and varied.”

Deacon Ed Ireland adds: “Toledo [Ohio]] has been used to bring Jesus to the poorest of the poor. A security deposit and furniture have led us to pray with the families we serve. We do house blessings, mentoring and referrals to local churches. In these ways, we restore human dignity and spread the love of Jesus, which has led to several conversions to the Catholic faith.”

Impactful experiences like these affect both recipients and volunteers, and it’s what keeps volunteers with us. I’ve chronicled Off The Streets in both of my books, “Help The Homeless Off The Streets One Person At A Time” ($9.95) and “Finally Home, The Prophetic Witness of Off The Streets” ($14.95).

What You Can Do

So, what am I asking of you as a member of the clergy? Call me. Let’s talk. We can arrange an informational meeting. We stand ready to support you. The Holy Spirit will be with you every step of the way. Consider being a catalyst for change, impacting hundreds of people in your town, bringing hope and love to the homeless and precious joy to your parishioners.

Off The Streets has received many testimonials from clergy, media, volunteers, caseworkers, formerly homeless, donors, etc. Some are included at our website, Facebook and Off The Streets books. Here are three:

Bishop Timothy C. Senior, bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, in Pennsylvania, once mused, “How can I become an advocate for Off The Streets?” Within his question, he gave all of us, housed and unhoused, an enthusiastic nod of encouragement!

Bishop Ronald W. Gainer, previous bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, wrote in a letter: “The prophetic witness of Off The Streets is essential to the marginalized of the Lancaster area and beyond. To those who feel the weight of hopelessness, you are unveiling a world where the promise of a safe place to live can be realized and hope restored. Thank you, for spreading faith, hope and love through Off The Streets ministry.”

My pastor, Father Daniel Powell, has graciously offered to take calls from any pastor, parochial vicar or deacon who would like to contact him about Off The Streets at the parish phone number (717) 569-8531.

Almost all of our chapters have been founded by clergy acting as catalysts. Will you take a leap of faith and join us? Your people will respond! Call me. Let’s talk.

DEACON MICHAEL J. OLES, founder of Off The Streets, was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 2002. He lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is assigned to St. John Neumann Parish in the Diocese of Harrisburg.

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Contact information

Contact: Deacon Mike Oles, (203) 482-1460

Email: otsnewchapter@gmail.com

Website: www.offthestreetsnow.com

Facebook: Off The Streets – USA

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