The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

Source

Information from Bill Paxton's report on Interreligious Action in Greater Boston, 1994.

Issues

Social Action Ministries (SAM) deals primarily with homelessness and hunger issues.

Description

Social Action Ministries is a coalition of religious groups, social service agencies and individuals concerned with alleviating the problems of hungry and homeless people in the greater Boston area. Members and supporters of SAM are motivated by spiritual and social values to uphold the dignity of each person. The group exists to promote the collaboration of various social and religious organizations to respond to issues of injustice, poverty, homelessness and hunger.

Activities and Resources

Monthly meetings--Open meetings of SAM are held every month on the first Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at the Paulist Center, 5 Park Street, Boston. All are welcome. The monthly meetings provide a forum where people from every corner of our care-giving community come to address issues, share insights, network, and support one another. SAM brings specialists to speak and share their insights, enabling us to learn from the past, live compassionately in the present, and work for change in the future.

St. George Fund--Started by Philip Mangano's family in 1986 for assisting people seeking permanent housing. These funds are given entirely for rental assistance to families in Boston and Cambridge who are moving out of shelters or motels.

Emergency Resource Handbook--A directory of emergency resources in the greater Boston area, complete with information for making referrals, advocating, welfare, etc.

Advocacy--Encouraging religious and organizational leaders and their members to cooperate in support of public policy issues relating to hunger and homelessness.

Family-to-Family Project--Started in 1988 by Dr. Paul Buttenwieser. It was handed over to SAM to manage and it grew exponentially each year. By 1993 it was too large for SAM to manage, so it became its own independent organization. The Family-to-Family Project works through 11 agencies with the long-term commitment to provide permanent housing.