The year was 1981, a time of federal and state budget cuts to social programs. Moved by a growing number of people whose public-assistance benefits were being slashed, Pastor Don Clinton from Christ the Servant Lutheran Church spearheaded an effort to address federal budget cuts to people in need by convening meetings of religious and social-service leaders in Whatcom County.
Interfaith Is Born
At a meeting hosted by Christ the Servant Lutheran Church on Saturday, October 17, 1981, 44 representatives of 24 religious bodies in Whatcom County agreed to pool resources to assist local people in need. Thus, Interfaith Coalition was created as a home-grown, grass-roots attempt at uniting the local religious community to address unmet needs by bringing the resources of congregations together with those of social-service agencies, largely through volunteer action. Interfaith did not plan to become a direct-service agency. No political or theological stance was taken other than that of love in action.
Interfaith’s simple goal was to invite all local religious groups to come together around the purpose of service to our neighbors in need. Congregations donated a total of $3,500 for start-up expenses, and Christ the Servant Lutheran Church offered space for Interfaith’s first office.
Interfaith at Work
Interfaith’s first task was to assist with the reorganization and relocation of the Bellingham Food Bank. Soon after, Interfaith Coalition, in collaboration with the Opportunity Council and the Whatcom County Medical Society, created a program through which community physicians agreed to accept referrals of those in need of medical care but without the resources to obtain it. Interfaith Medical Care officially began on September 7, 1982, and served 16 people in its first three days.
Recognizing the need to address homelessness in our community, Interfaith Coalition, now in its new office at First Congregational Church, supported Opportunity Council’s Opportunity House for the homeless in 1983. Other programs Interfaith Coalition supported during the 1980s were a daycare program for children of homeless parents, Maple Alley Inn’s meals for the homeless, and the opening of Trinity House, a shelter for expectant teenage mothers.
On-site Medical Services
Amid a growing demand for affordable health care for people with low incomes, Interfaith’s medical program began on-site services at its first clinic on C Street in the fall of 1987. Interfaith Coalition also expanded its health-care program by funding children’s dental care on a referral basis in the offices of participating dentists
At the end of 1991, Interfaith Clinic, which today is called Interfaith Community Health Center, relocated to St. Joseph Hospital’s South Campus on Chestnut Street, and by 1992 the center was offering on-site dental services.
In 1997 the health center reached the long-sought goal of adding behavioral health to the services it provides low-income people. The phenomenal growth of the health center – more than 19,000 patient visits in 2000 — necessitated another relocation. Interfaith Community Health Center moved to its current Unity Street location in the spring of 2001. The larger facility houses 11 dental chairs, nine medical examination rooms, and two mental-health consultation rooms.
The health center faces enormous challenges as it continues to provide medical, dental and behavioral-health care to a growing population that is either uninsured or cannot find physicians who will accept their medical insurance because of low government reimbursement rates.
Addressing Homelessness
With the need for affordable housing becoming increasingly apparent, Interfaith Coalition formed a committee in November 1991 to determine how to address the problem of homelessness. After many meetings and public forums, the committee decided to develop temporary housing for homeless families.
On land purchased in February 1993, Interfaith Coalition built a four-unit apartment building to provide transitional housing in which homeless families could live for up to two years. Construction began on September 30, 1994. Thanks to the overwhelming support in the form of money, time and materials from 41 congregations, 55 businesses and countless individuals, the building, along with the upgrading of an existing single-family home for use as emergency housing, was completed for about $30 a square foot the following summer. The first families moved into Interfaith Family Housing in July 1995.
From the beginning, case-management services were, and they continue to be, an integral part of Interfaith’s housing program. Families meet regularly with case managers from Opportunity Council to work on goals that will lead to self-sufficiency and permanent housing.
In April 2002 Interfaith piloted a new model in homeless housing through a partnership between a member congregation, which offered its parish house for this project; and Lydia Place, which provides case-management services. In fall 2003, a second partnership house opened to homeless families. It is a partnership between Interfaith Coalition, a member congregation, and Opportunity Council. A third partnership house, the joint effort between Interfaith Coalition, a member congregation, and Opportunity Council, opened in February 2005, welcoming a family of seven – mom, dad, and five children. In a year, up to 10 families may receive shelter, support, and hope while working on stabilizing their lives during their stays in each of our three partnership houses.
Additionally, with the support of three Ferndale and one Custer congregations, Interfaith Coalition in 2007 began renting an apartment in Ferndale to serve homeless families in northern Whatcom County. Case-management services are provided by Opportunity Council.
Even with the efforts of several Whatcom County organizations, homelessness in our community remains a huge concern. When the weather turns severely cold, the lives of some homeless people may be at risk. In fall 2004, Interfaith Coalition, through the efforts of numerous volunteers, began a program to provide overnight shelter to homeless people on occasions when severe weather may be life-threatening. Faith Lutheran Church hosts men on these nights, and Garden Street United Methodist Church hosts women and children. Interfaith volunteers from numerous congregations provide transportation, overnight staffing, and supplies for the program.
Offering a Caring Connection
With a start-up grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Interfaith Coalition launched a Faith in Action Friendly Visitors program in fall 2004. The program reaches out to older members of our community whose health and well-being may improve through increased social contact. The program matches compassionate volunteers, who make social visits, both face-to-face and by telephone, with senior neighbors who are disconnected from the community for a variety of reasons, including mobility limitations, lack of a social network, restrictive caregiving situations, or living in isolated rural settings..
With the physical and mental-health consequences from the lack of meaningful social contact well documented in numerous studies, the Friendly Visitors program not only offers a caring human contact, but over time will improve the health and well-being of those served.
The Future
The strength of Interfaith Coalition depends on involvement from member congregations. Since its beginning in 1981, Interfaith has grown to 45 congregations, plus St. Joseph Hospital, with many dedicated volunteers, who are critical to the work of the coalition. Ongoing volunteer and financial support from member congregations will ensure that Interfaith Coalition continues to be responsive to our neighbors in need.
