A Cry for Justice

The Church's Role in Defending the Rights of the Unhoused

The Tennessee policy targeting the unhoused raises a critical question: Where is the Church's voice standing up for the poor, just as Jesus did?

As a doctoral candidate, I embarked on a journey in January, one day before MLK Day, to understand the impacts of House Bill 978. This bill, which has become a state law, designates sleeping on public property as a Class E Felony for the homeless, punishable by up to six years in jail and loss of voting rights upon conviction.

The problem, which requires the complete attention and compassion of the entire nation and the Church, is the punishment inflicted upon people with no place to reside. This trend of sanitizing the public perception of the homeless has been ongoing for decades^[1]. It goes against the principles taught by Jesus, who himself experienced displacement due to government actions and, thus, identifies with those who are unhoused.

My research took me to the four major cities in the state–Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville–where I conducted street interviews to gain insight into the impact of this policy on the unhoused population.

This allowed me to witness firsthand the effects of the policy on the unhoused and determine if this law was violating their basic human rights and diminishing their sense of self-worth. It wasn't until I met Katherine in Memphis that the true impact of this policy on homelessness became clear to me.

She lived in a tent blocks from where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Her words were a stark reminder that those without an address are often not given the dignity and respect they deserve, despite King's message that the world is our address and that we all live in a global village and a world house. She emphasized that the policy made her feel worthless and noted the limited options available to homeless women, often targeted by law enforcement, even in church parking lots.

“Katherine, what does home mean to you?” I asked. She smiled broadly, discussing what it would mean to her to spend Thanksgiving with her family. However, she was suddenly reminded of the reality of her current situation. Katherine's words echoed the stories of many people I encountered while in the Volunteer state and made me think about the more significant implications of national public policies that cause this inner pain to those on the street.

The shocking reality of homelessness exposes a disturbing pattern of anti-homelessness policies that seek to address the issue by punishing the unhoused for basic life-sustaining activities. Tennessee, leading the charge with its Class E Felony legislation, has sparked a wave of similar oppressive measures in other cities and states.

Not even three months after Tennessee’s law went into effect, Missouri followed up with its policy that banned camping, making it a misdemeanor. I wondered where the Church's voice was advocating for those in need.^[2]The fact that we criminalize life-sustaining activities like sleeping, eating, and seeking shelter only perpetuates the cycle of poverty and desperation for the homeless population.

My heart was heavy with sadness and empathy after speaking with members of the homeless community who shared their feelings of abandonment and helplessness. They expressed that even the Church had failed to offer them a supportive voice and refuge. The constant harassment compounds the daily struggle for survival from law enforcement just for standing in public spaces. Seeing individuals already marginalized and struggling subjected to further mistreatment is devastating.

The words of Jesus touched me profoundly: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20, NKJV).

My conversations with those experiencing homelessness on the streets deeply impacted me, reminding me of the profound truth that Jesus himself was a refugee, displaced, and subjected to public sanitation. Born in poverty, he and his family were forced to flee to safety in the face of violence and persecution. This speaks to the shared experience of being without a home and a Savior who profoundly understands the struggles of homelessness.

It was heartbreaking to hear how many in the homeless community felt neglected and mistreated by the churches claiming to follow Jesus's teachings of love and compassion. In Memphis, I witnessed churches ask the unhoused to leave their parking lots, despite the safety it provided from law enforcement harassment. This made me wonder why faith leaders, who claim to embody the love of God, were not doing more to stand up for and protect the humanity and dignity of those without an address.

Katherine confirmed these words toward the end of our conversation: “If you can’t stand on church property when you are homeless, where can you go?” which raises the question of whether the Church will break its silence and stand up for those whom Jesus himself focused his ministry on–the outcast­.

Katherine's words ring with a profound truth–the criminalization of homelessness perpetuates a cycle of injustice and poverty, depriving those without a home of access to housing, healthcare, and a sense of belonging. The message sent by these policies is cruel–that the lives and dignity of the unhoused are not valued.

Yet, amid this darkness, there is hope. The scripture reminds us of Jesus' mission to preach the gospel to the poor and heal the brokenhearted, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.^[3] It is time for the Church to answer this call and stand up for the marginalized and vulnerable, including those experiencing homelessness.

As policymakers consider their stance on the issue, they must be reminded to listen to the voices of the unhoused and address the root causes of homelessness rather than criminalizing their attempts to survive.

I conclude with this remark from Katherine: “Something must be done because how we are treated and how I am treated just ain’t right.” The Church holds a divine invitation to share the gospel and courageously stand against the unjust systems that cause harm and perpetuate suffering for the unhoused. Inspired by the stories and experiences of Katherine and the individuals I encountered on my journey, I pray that the Church will embrace its role as a beacon of hope for those in need.

This is a call to action for the Church to extend its love, compassion, and support to the unhoused community and to work towards creating a more just and equitable society. I was reminded of the words of Martin Luther King Jr. penned from a Birmingham Jail in the critique of church leaders who remained silent despite their criticisms of him: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" ^[4] (p. 290).

The time has come to break the silence and cry out.

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^[1] Herring, C. (2020). Cruel streets: Criminalizing homelessness in San Francisco (Publication No. 28089592). [Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Berkeley]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

^[2] “Bill Information.” Missouri House of Representatives - Bill Information for HB1606. Accessed February 9, 2023. https://www.house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1606&year=2022&code=R. 

^[3] Luke 4:18-19

^[4] King, Martin Luther. 1968. “Letter from Birmingham City Jail.” In A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr., edited by James M. Washington, 289–302. New York: HarperOne.