Housing task force
01/10/2022 10:26:08 AM
Jan10
During the High Holy Days, Rabbi David announced a new initiative at JCOGS: a year-long focus on one social action issue: food or housing insecurity. With 70 JCOGS members filling out a survey to decide, the final verdict was split 35 votes to 35 votes!! On the survey, some people volunteered to sign up for a task force. The JCOGS board empowered this new group to make the final decision, and they overwhelmingly voted to place our energy and time towards housing issues in Lamoille valley. Thus the creation of the first-ever JCOGS housing task force.
Our first action was to help the lamoille community house with its shelter wishlist. We hope that you will please take a few minutes to drop off wishlist items at 103 Main Street Hyde Park, VT.
The housing task force has hopes of tackling housing issues from many different perspectives, such as education, advocacy, and direct action. We are in the initial stages of coordinating a forum on housing with other faith communities. The goal is to bring together key stakeholders (legislators, developers, those most impacted, greater community members like you) to educate folks in the community about housing issues, while finding solutions to barriers for more affordable options.
In addition, one of our housing task force members, Cyndy Wyatt, will be sitting on the newly created working communities challenge housing workgroup, a community-wide initiative to create change across our county.
I am also happy to report that several JCOGS congregants will be taking an exciting seven week course called, "Don't Kvetch Organize" through an organization called, Join for Justice-The Jewish Organizing Institute. The Jewish Organizing Institute and Network for Justice (JOIN for Justice), is a national organization dedicated to training, supporting, and connecting Jewish organizers and their communities. For more information click on the links above.
We are very excited to be making an impact on improving the lives of our neighbors. If you are interested in joining the housing task force, please contact: Judith Wine, wine.judith@jcogs.org.
Tue, April 23 2024 15 Nisan 5784