Luke 14:12-14
12Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
a banquet of love & acceptance for those who need it most
Church at the Park (C@P) is a non-profit organization located in Salem, Oregon.
Since 2007, C@P has been creating a table of love and acceptance for those who need it most and empowering people to change their lives and exit poverty by providing vital low barrier shelter and employment services. C@P seeks the mutual transformation of unsheltered people, our staff, and our volunteers through relationships, agency partnerships, and tangible resources.
To date, C@P has focused on providing three things for our unsheltered neighbors: collaborative outreach and navigation, housing-focused sheltering, and workforce development; C@P is now working toward a fourth focus of supported permanent housing, which will help us to be even more successful at achieving our other three aims.
Collaborative Outreach & Navigation is provided through an Outreach Team and Case Management Team. These teams connect with people living in encampments and in vehicles to provide tangible resources to people, like food and tents, and to connect them to other necessary services, such as housing and medical care.
Housing-Focused Sheltering Low-barrier sheltering is provided through non-congregate communities where we offer emergency housing for people of all ages, regardless of race, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sobriety, or mental health. We allow people to remain with pets, partners, and property, which helps to remove a barrier that would often preclude them from seeking shelter or services elsewhere. C@P works alongside guests to exit shelter into more stable housing.
Workforce Development is provided through intentional hiring practices that reduce barriers to employment as well as programs that employ individuals with lived experience of homelessness. In 2025 we will open our training kitchen at the Young Adult Shelter to provide food service training and jobs.
Supportive Housing C@P is expanding our focus to include the provision of supported permanent housing. This focus allows us to maintain relationships with people exiting our shelters into permanent housing to ensure they remain stably housed. Additionally, C@P has a strategic plan to own and/ operate Permanent Supportive Housing projects for formerly homeless individuals. Healthy relationships and supportive communities are significant needs in helping people achieve stability and our goal is to develop supportive housing projects that meet those needs.
To create a table of love and acceptance for those who need it most.
Luke 14:12-14
12Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
See with Compassion
Build Relationships
Practice Empathetic Listening
Pursue Peacemaking
Cultivate Belonging
