Started by a United Methodist couple, Ice Angels has grown from handing out water to unsheltered people under a bridge to providing food and other needed supplies and services with the help of a network of local churches, nonprofits and businesses.
United Methodists see reason to increase their efforts to care for homeless people, including building more affordable housing, after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld ordinances that make sleeping outside a crime.
The landmark General Conference that took place April 23-May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina, was set amongst a thriving downtown with a homeless problem. Those two things are connected if United Methodists are true to their convictions.
The United Methodist Church of Eastern Congo is appealing for aid as 45,000 people are left homeless by two fires in the Malicha and Bushushu IDP camps in South Kivu.