Homelessness Ministries—Together We Can Do So Much

The number from our UUC community involved with Homelessness Ministries has grown to about 200, with engagement spread across the following.

  • Direct service, like rolling up your shirt sleeves to do something. Think Lake City Partners Sack Lunch Team, Teen Feed Meal Team and more.
  • Advocacy - During the legislative session, and other times throughout the year, folks have responded to requests to advocate for city, county, state and even national issues. Using your voice can influence funding initiatives, push legislation through, and advance systemic change. 
  • Education - Attending community meetings and training sessions, and sometimes, bringing speakers to UUC like Gregg Colburn. Maybe it's learning more about ways that UUC can share it's space to benefit those who are unhoused. 
  • Fundraising - Supporting efforts to combat and prevent homelessness in the community and support agencies that serve our unhoused neighbors. 



Year-end summary of our community's work during 2025-26


Direct Service

  • Prepared and served 18 dinners at Teen Feed, feeding 85-100 teens for a total of over 1,600 meals for the year. 
  • Prepared and delivered sack lunches to feed 40 Lake City Partners (LCP) clients twice a month, for a total of 960 individuals lunches provided this year.
  • Prepared and served 3 dinners at the LCP Winter Shelter
  • Hosted Wednesday night potluck dinners for Tent City 3 when UUC hosted for the second time in 2025
  • Assisted Tent City with moves in July 2025 and again in May 2026
  • Prepared and delivered 60 lunches on Tent City Moving Day in July 2025
  • Organized Drive to collect blankets, winter coats, tents and more to benefit both Teen Feed, and other unhoused individuals, last winter. 
  • Coming of Age youth & mentors created centerpiece arrangements to decorate the Teen Feed dinner tables
  • May 2026 Faith in Action – Created 100 personal hygiene/first aid kits for Teen Feed, with several UUC youth involved in the planning
  • Invitation for UUC small groups to consider hosting a Teen Feed meal during holiday and summer months when there may be gaps in the schedule. The Men’s Group prepared and served dinner in early January, and Youngish will prepare and serve a meal in a few weeks.


Advocacy

  • Sent out regular advocacy alerts during 2025-26, especially during the legislative session. 
  • Some from UUC attended the Faith Action Network (FAN) Advocacy Day in Olympia.
  • Several from UUC attended a King County Regional Homelessness Authority/Seattle City meeting to advocate with SHARE/WHEEL that Tent City 3 and Tent City 4 be allowed to continue at respective sites on public lands during Fall 2025. Several others sent emails and made calls to Mayor Harrell and Seattle City Council members.


Educational

  • Hosted Gregg Colburn talk, “Homelessness is a Housing Problem.”
  • Several from UUC attended the Faith Shelter Summits (October 2025 and April 2026).
  • Several have joined the monthly meetings of the Faith Action Network (FAN) Housing & Homelessness Work Group
  • Met with representatives of Faith Land Initiative and other agencies to explore other ideas to impact homelessness such as serving as a Housing Assistance Point, being a center for the Point-in-Time Count, hosting a safe parking lot and serving as a location for an extreme weather shelter.
  • Group leaders attended the Affordable Housing Week 2026 events 


Fundraising

  • Hosted Second Sunday plates to benefit Teen Feed and Lake City Partners.
  • Shared information about The Oaks 5th Birthday Go-Fund-Me effort to raise funds for essential building renovations.

 

With more joining this work over the past year, there is potential to do even more. Some ideas include expanding programs that involve families, teens and young adults; expanding our partnerships with more organizations in the community; and getting more involved in advocacy efforts organized by the Faith Action Network (FAN). Maybe you have more ideas you'd like to help launch, or join one of the existing efforts. 


If you enjoy gardening, consider getting involved with the new Community Garden project to benefit Teen Feed meal teams. Click here to learn about the June 20 garden work party. 


Questions, ideas or want to get involved? Contact Judy Oerkvitz or Pam Smith Mentz.




(Click below to enlarge photos)

Posted/updated on:

June 17, 2026