The First Day of Christmas (a day late)
Housing Security and Social Justice: Lessons from the Holy Family
I will be writing my version of the Twelve Days of Christmas each day through Epiphany (January 6, 2025), from the perspective of social justice and positive, proactive policy change, as informed by my work at the Cecil.
To all my readers and supporters, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. This year was filled with amazing change and progress at the Cecil. Grateful to all of you for your loving support and kindness!
The First Day of Christmas
As we reflect on the story of the Holy Family, it’s impossible not to draw parallels between their search for shelter and the housing struggles we see today. Mary and Joseph, faced with the urgency of Mary’s labor, were turned away time and again before finding refuge in a stable. It’s a story of resilience, but also one of profound injustice—a reminder that the need for shelter has been a human issue for millennia.
In my work at the Cecil Hotel, I see modern-day echoes of this struggle. The tenants I work with are resilient, navigating challenges like poverty, addiction, and systemic inequities. But resilience shouldn’t have to be a survival skill. No one should have to fight this hard for something as basic as a safe place to call home.
Resilience shouldn't have to be a survival skill. Yet, for many individuals and families, it's a necessary coping mechanism in a world that often seems designed to thwart their well-being. We praise resilience as a virtue, but when it becomes the primary means of survival, we're essentially asking people to compensate for systemic failures. Instead, we should strive for a world where everyone has access to the resources and support they need to thrive, making resilience a characteristic that enables people to pursue their passions, not just make ends meet.
Housing insecurity is not just an individual issue; it’s a societal failure. We need policies that prioritize affordable housing, tenant protections, and access to resources that help people stay housed. At the Cecil, I’ve seen how even small interventions—life skills training, access to healthy food, and community support—can make a big difference.
Social justice calls us to do more. Advocating for housing and food security isn’t just policy work; it’s Gospel work. When we ensure that everyone has a stable foundation, we live out the radical hospitality Jesus modeled. We can honor the Holy Family’s story by building a world where no one is left out in the cold.
Our Christmas Celebrations
Before we go any further, can we get one thing straight: it wasn't a stable, and nor was it a cave.