JUST Pensacola, UUCP’s Justice Partner, Takes on Affordable Housing
On January 11, 2021, over 160 members of the JUST Pensacola Coalition “Zoomed in” to vote on the justice issues we would address this coming year. The meeting was called a Problem Assembly. Last year’s 120 congregations have been joined by several more. At least 3 new congregations were recog-nized as we were all greeted. I was happy to spot at least 8 or 10 members of UUCP in the crowd. We are indeed a justice-seeking people.
After The Rev. Michael Hoffman greeted each congregation represented there, The Rev. Kammy Young celebrated last year’s success. At last year’s Nehemiah Assembly we received firm verbal com-mitments from incoming State Attorney Ginger Bowden-Madden and incoming Sheriff Chip Simmons to work to increase the use of civil citations instead of arrests for our young people who have encounters with law enforcement.
At this Problem Assembly we voted to continue to follow up and monitor the use of civil citations this year. Our next vote was whether to focus primarily on school readiness among our children, one of last year’s issues, or to move to another issue. The one that was brought forward in many of our house meetings was the lack of affordable housing in this area. Housing was already in short supply before the COVID-19 crisis caused many to lose their jobs and Hurricane Sally reduced the supply of housing, leaving us with an even worse problem. The vote was overwhelming in favor of taking on the housing crisis. We will keep our interest in education alive but on the back burner for future action.
The vote for JUST Pensacola officers brought forward The Rev. Paul Blackman as Co-President for a two-year term with Rev. Michael Hoffman staying in place for his second year. The Vice President for a one-year term will be The Rev. Freddie Tellis.
If you are interested in being part of the research team for our issues, the kick-off for that action will take place on Monday, February 8th at 6 PM with a Zoom meeting. If you believe that you might be interested I encourage you to attend to see what it is all about. Please email me and I’ll send you the link and other info to attend the Zoom meeting. You can look up my email on Sim-ple Church or you may email the church office at uupensacola@gmail.com and the office admin-istrator will forward the email to me.
On a financial note, our congregation at UUCP is living up to its budgeted commitment for support. Each of us at our house meetings last year agreed to consider whether to make a personal contribution. The suggested level was $200. JUST Pensacola has demonstrated its ability to move the needle to-ward justice. I am writing my check right now. If any of the rest of us have not done that yet, the checks can be mailed to JUST Pensacola at 500 Woodland Drive, Pensacola, FL 32503.
Paula Montgomery