Marginalized groups are social groups within a society that experience systematic discrimination, exclusion, or disadvantage based on various characteristics like race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or immigration status.
Leviticus 23:22 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.
Proverbs 19:17 Those who are kind to the poor lend to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
Matthew 25:42-46 I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
‘They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ ‘He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Video - Room In The Inn Photos
Father Charles Strobel -Room in the Inn (200+) Churches / 35 Cities have adopted his model.
Began 1985 - invited those in this parking lot into the church.
In December 1986, four congregations committed to sheltering people experiencing homeless
Video - Room In The Inn
Charles Strobel’s favorite statement - “do you believe in the goodness YOU have?”
Most people would like to do something, but they can’t organize it to make it possible.
Charlie realized he could organize but he couldn’t do it by himself.
Who make up the homeless population?
Some are dealing with alcohol or drugs and mentally ill but…
Battling stereotypes and mistrust…
Much of our behavior is learned…
“Trying to get out of poverty is not just getting a good and steady job but also changing the behaviors that keep you from living paycheck to paycheck”
Food deserts and predatory retail
Bill Yates meals under the bridge.
Are there people who abuse the system? of course!
Compassion, even when it is their choices!
Avoid seeing people as less than ourselves.
Would I be willing to trade my life for theirs?
Panhandle rather than work but… have that lifestyle?
Book - The End of Poverty Jeffery Sachs
(while personal choices do play a role. It’s also, mental illness, opportunities, disabilities, government, access to resources… And many other factors)
Lauren Robinson - It is absolutely easy to assume we know why someone is marginalized. When we assume, we lose the ability to listen, synthesize, empathize, and advocate.
Paula - Paper Seller on Bonita Parkway
The rest of the story… 2 Weeks later… His Mother kidnapped and murdered by a man who would escape from a mental institution.
Video - Charles Stroble legacy
Map - Room In The Inn City’s
Lauren Robinson insights: Insights on working with marginalized:
Poverty, in part, is maintained through capitalism. If you look at areas of town that have higher rates of poverty, you see food deserts and predatory retail (think advance financial or quick loans places or pawn shops) that do not invite good or informed decision making. Food deserts don’t allow access to good or healthy food in those areas (you see more fast food places or quickie marts/convenience stores with ultra-processed foods) so the residents don’t have good options and this typically shows up in health statistics/mortality rates and need for medical care.
Much of our behavior is learned. What you see other people do, you also have a propensity toward doing. Trying to get out of poverty is not just getting a good and steady job but also changing the behaviors that keep you from living paycheck to paycheck. This is hard to do when you lack information or insight on how to do that and don’t have advocates that can coach you to alternative lifestyles in addition to a network of support around you that helps you stay accountable to the change. To some degree we are in control of this, to some degree we are not.
Poverty can definitely be associated with racism. Our political system does not help with this issue when our legislature can use tactics like redistricting/gerrymandering to keep the poor staying poor or to keep certain groups of people away from others when it comes to the power of the vote or informed decision-making or even those who vote versus those who do not. These constituents don’t actually have representatives that truly meet their needs when this happens.
It is absolutely easy to assume we know why someone is marginalized. When we take curiosity off the table, we lose the ability to listen, synthesize, empathize, and advocate.