Good Friday prayer vigil speakers call for action on homelessness, affordable housing

Bryce Buyakie, The Daily Record
·3 min read
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Nichole Stark described her time living without a home on the streets of Wooster. She urged residents and policymakers to "stop turning a blind eye."
Nichole Stark described her time living without a home on the streets of Wooster. She urged residents and policymakers to "stop turning a blind eye."

WOOSTER − Standing before a crowd of nearly three dozen people at the annual Good Friday service on Public Square, Nichole Stark urged residents to stop turning a blind eye to the city's homeless population.

Stark, who was without a home until recently, told the Wooster Area Interfaith Partnership, guests and passersby her experience living on the street.

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Roughly 36 people held hands as they closed the Good Friday ceremony in downtown Wooster singing "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love."
Roughly 36 people held hands as they closed the Good Friday ceremony in downtown Wooster singing "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love."

"We take so much for granted like cars and showers and food," Stark said. "You always keep one eye open when sleeping, and as a woman, sleeping on the street is even harder than as a man."

She was one of several speakers at the Wooster event who urged policymakers and residents for more action to the solve nation spanning affordable housing crisis and to help those living without shelter.

"What if that person you passed by on the street was God and you turned a blind eye?" Stark said. "I'm done turning a blind eye."

Advocating on Good Friday

Trinity United Church of Christ Rev. Kevan Franklin addresses the people at the Good Friday service in downtown Wooster. He spoke about homelessness, putting Good Friday in a modern context.
Trinity United Church of Christ Rev. Kevan Franklin addresses the people at the Good Friday service in downtown Wooster. He spoke about homelessness, putting Good Friday in a modern context.

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, so each year Trinity United Church of Christ Rev. Kevan Franklin aims to use the day to spread awareness about certain topics, thus putting the holy day in a modern context.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine was the topic last year, said Franklin, also the chairman of the Interfaith Partnership. This year, it is housing and homelessness.

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"Homelessness is a systemic problem," Franklin said. "Many parables come to mind."

Citing New Testament parables like that of Lazarus and the good samaritan, he said these stories are still relevant today. Quoting statistics, Franklin described the difficulties Americans face.

A 2023 report showed roughly 64% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, meaning most of their income is spent by the next payday.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported nearly 28 million Americans, or 8% of the population, were without health insurance in 2020 when the pandemic hit.

"These are factors that can lead to homelessness," he said. "This needs to change."

'Those who are homeless matter'

The Rev. Everett Caldwell of the Triumphant Church of Wooster asked residents to be more caring for those living without shelter and to watch the language they use to describe them.
The Rev. Everett Caldwell of the Triumphant Church of Wooster asked residents to be more caring for those living without shelter and to watch the language they use to describe them.

The Rev. Everett Caldwell of the Triumphant Church of Wooster recalled how often phrases are used to blame people experiencing homeless for their circumstances.

From calling individuals "lazy" to saying they "aren't working hard enough," he said this language recasts individuals from people who need help to outcasts.

"Christ was born in poverty," Caldwell said. "Those who are homeless matter."

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Westminster Presbyterian Church Rev. Eniko Ferenczy urged residents to challenge a status quo that keeps people in poverty.
Westminster Presbyterian Church Rev. Eniko Ferenczy urged residents to challenge a status quo that keeps people in poverty.

To help those living below the poverty line, he said society needs to help improve their lives.

But to do that, Westminster Presbyterian Church Rev. Eniko Ferenczy said the status quo must be challenged.

"It is our ethical imperative to build a better community," she told the crowd. "Let us unite our power to challenge any status quo that pushes people to the margins."

For Ferenczy, uniting power means bringing together volunteers, agencies and organizations like the Wayne County Homelessness Taskforce and local churches to advocate for change.

To learn more about the Homelessness Taskforce its Facebook page.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Good Friday homelessness prayer vigil: 'I'm done turning a blind eye'