2011 Justice Grant
Congratulations to Churches United in Ministry, the 2011 OFN Conference Justice Grant Awardee!
Each year, OFN awards the OFN Conference Justice Grant to an organization whose mission supports social, economic, or political justice. The award is made on behalf of the OFN Conference attendees. This year, the Conference Co-hosts selected the awardee, Duluth-based Churches United in Ministry.
Based in Duluth, MN, Churches United in Ministry (CHUM) is the primary provider of services to homeless and low-income people in Duluth. CHUM serves over 7,000 people a year through its shelters, food shelves, state level advocacy, and community organizing work giving voice to the most vulnerable citizens. Housing advocates and street case managers provide stabilization services through case management programs for homeless or imminently homeless families and single adults.
CHUM’s congregational outreach and community organizing efforts center on social justice issues relating to homelessness, poverty, and employment. In coalition, CHUM worked effectively to keep the state from eliminating critical medical programs for Duluth’s poorest citizens in 2010 and to convince the City of Duluth to dedicate funds to affordable housing development, and consistently mobilizes Duluth citizens to rally at the state capitol for effective policies to help people get out of poverty.
