We want to remind you that there are TWO ways you can generously give to your loved ones and also support the ministry of Community United Methodist Church.

1. Purchase SCRIP gift cards and use them as gifts or for your own shopping
2. Use the Amazon link to order on Amazon.com. A percentage of your purchase will be returned to CUMC’s Family Life program for the May All-church Retreat! Just click here: 
   

CUMC fielded a team of 10 volunteers on Saturday, October 28, to work on two new Habitat for Humanity homes while enjoying the toasty warmth of Placentia.

Our team worked alongside one of the home owners performing chalking, painting, and installing wood trim around both houses.

Habitat and the families soon to reside in these new homes thank you for bringing them a step closer to reality.  

                                                 Justice and Compassion Committee

Support the Homeless and the Low Income in HB

Services to the homeless and neediest low-income families in Huntington Beach are being threatened. The City Council will formally vote on the eviction of Beach Cities Interfaith Services to be effective on January 8, 2018. The eviction stems from increased homeless unlawful activities and disturbances, in the area of BCIS, where it is believed that many are receiving services. The city believes that the churches could do more, but most of the churches and organizations in Huntington Beach are doing a lot to help those in need, and refer to BCIS for additional homeless and low-income help. It is also thought that churches and organizations could each take on different parts of the BCIS services, but if you are on foot, a bicycle, or your car is about to break down and it is your home, it is difficult to go to many places for many services, and it is a more humane approach to receive your needed services in one place.

Approximately 50% of BCIS clients are men, some of whom are housed, some seniors, some veterans, some disabled, some with families and some are homeless. It is important to know that over 1,000 clients we serve are Huntington Beach residents. That means that 1000 people per year who are trying to stay housed and put food on their tables for their families will no longer have the help BCIS offers.

Without any facts or staff reports proving their allegations, the city staff has decided that BCIS is the cause of crime in Huntington Beach. They ignore the facts that there has been a huge increase in sober living homes in Huntington Beach WHICH EFFECTIVELY import addicted people into the city. When they fail their program, guess where they end up? They also ignore the fact that a recent law allows the early release of prisoners who then have to return to the city where their crime was committed. They return with no money and no means to support themselves. So, BCIS is being scapegoated and defamed and, in Police Chief Rob Handy’s own words, the reasons we are being blamed is “anecdotal evidence.” 

Here’s what you can do:

1. Read a full update of BCIS Services (see below)
2. Please come to the City Council meeting November 6 at 6:00 PM – Wear Red which means Stop the Eviction. (If you would like to speak to the issue, arrive by 5:30 to sign up)
3. Call the City Council Members before the November 6 meeting. Flood them with emails of your displeasure. It’s our only hope. This “City of Compassion and Kindness” is ruthlessly turning their backs on the most vulnerable among us. Go to City of Huntington Beach for a list of phone numbers and emails.

The Reverend Karen Maurer
Executive Director, Beach Cities Interfaith Services

BCIS – Beach Cities Interfaith Services

Services and Focus

Prevention of homelessness is far more humane and cost effective than allowing families to spiral downward into homelessness. Of people we served with permanent addresses, 81% were from HB in 2016.

Services include monthly groceries, utility assistance (through our partnership with United Way), hygiene items, gas cards, bus passes, clothing and any other assistance we can offer.  81% of these family groups are Huntington Beach Residents, people who are most at risk of losing their housing. Prevention is what we do–for about 1,000 residents per year! The people we serve include

• Family groups of single females with children under 18–24%
• Disabled individuals in a household–19%
• Seniors in all households (60+)–17%

We give food to those who need it, particularly residents (6/2016-7/2017)

• H.B. Residents–31,565 pounds alone, just from the Orange County Food Bank
• All eligible for CalFresh–we signed up 89 families, which translates to 82,486 meals
• All in need–we collected between 10-15,000 pounds from local churches, individuals and congregations.

Monetary Value of Services Rendered:

• Valued at about $500,000 per year to clients
• Volunteer time–about $166,000/year at no cost to the city of Huntington Beach