Churches Ready To Help Ease Welfare Reform

Hoping to wrap their collective arms around welfare reform, church members and clergy have organized a public meeting with state officials.

It’s part of a new and necessary trend of private charities picking up where the state will soon leave off.

“We feel there are going to be tremendous needs that the church could help with,” said Christine Wold, an NIC teacher who attends the Lutheran Church of the Master.

So far, the group - dubbed Diakonia, Greek for servant - has only kicked around ideas. Churches could open a nonprofit day care. They could team up to give out clothing. Really, its founders aren’t sure what all needs to be done. That’s what tonight’s meeting will help decide.

With the July 1 reform kickoff date approaching, organizers don’t have much time. After that, the days of the permanent dole with be over - people will only be able to receive welfare payments for a maximum of 24 months.

Part of the plan is to have private groups shoulder more of the charity load. In the case of Diakonia, reform could usher in a new era of church helping state. Private and public charities will start referring people in need to one another more often.

Michelle Britton, regional director of the state department of Health and Welfare, said reform is a good thing if former recipients find jobs. They’ll make more money, even at low-wage jobs, than they would on public assistance.

But the transition could be tough. “This is new territory in Idaho,” Britton said. “… Child care and transportation are probably the biggest issues as far as what the needs may be.”

No one can get to work without a ride, and single parents won’t be able to leave anyway, without someone to watch the children. Britton sees late-night child care as essential.

“We will need more infant care and nontraditional hours care, for people who work swing shift and nontraditional hours.”

Britton sees church volunteers as perfect for the job. “They’re a model for community interest in assisting people.”

Britton and state Sen. Gordon Crow will attend the welfare-reform meeting.

So far, the churches involved are St. Pius Catholic, Community United Methodist, St Luke’s Episcopal, Lutheran Church of the Master and First Presbyterian.

But First Presbyterian’s pastor is reluctant to call Diakonia a church group. The Rev. Mike Bullard wants to cooperate with the St. Vincent de Paul Society - a religious group, but not a church. And what about non-Christian religions? Bullard said he isn’t in it to push theology; he just wants people of faith to act on their beliefs and help others.

So far, that feeling is unanimous. “The plan is to invite all religious congregations to participate,” Wold said. “It’s an inclusionary group, not exclusionary.”

And she thinks it’s about time.

“It didn’t seem like churches in Coeur d’Alene were together like they used to be.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: MEETING The welfare reform meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church, 521 Lakeside, in its Fireside Room. The public is invited.