We need to learn what YIMBYism is, and we need to be YIMBYs. The other term to learn is “Missing Middle Housing” and that's where we should focus, because that's where Emersonians can make a difference.

At least a couple people in our congregation ought to be willing to take on densifying their property and creating housing at below-market rates for people willing to commit to car-free living. There are challenges like HOA rules and parking requirements so this would be a really activist thing to do.

This may become relevant sooner, later, or never.

We need to consider people living in our parking lot. While we don't have the resources to help everyone, it would be unethical for us to simply evict everyone who asks, in an environment where you can't even get on a waiting list for permanent housing. (Be prepared to talk back to NIMBYism as it arises in this conversation.)

I propose a set of boundaries and a ministry:

• We do need to set a limit to the number of cars that can let park overnight.
• Crime is a legitimate concern. There needs to be an organized neighborhood watch, run by people who live there, but whom we've vetted.
• Adding some doors inside Westwood Hall would allow people access to the bathrooms. That doesn't provide showers though, and those bathrooms might need upgrades to handle increased traffic and stresses.
• Cars should be moved for Sunday services.

This might be done in partnership with our neighbors. We should try.

Emerson needs to be prepared to either directly help someone who comes to our door with a need, or connect them to a community resource that helps them. We should try to fill as many needs with direct aid programs as possible. We need to restructure the LPMT and Ministerial Discretion Fund. They are not currently empowered to help in very many situations.

A lot of Emersonians have a really specific focus on hunger and food security. I find it odd.

If there's so much interest in providing food directly that our food program becomes a recruiting tool in itself, then we should do it. Otherwise, food is like other things people need.

The list of specific needs people might have is long. How to prepare to answer them is a hard question to answer. But we need to do something. We should at least be able to give someone a phone number if they ask, and right now we can't even do that.

Being able to connect someone with any need they might have is one side of the coin. Being able to connect people to volunteer and activism opportunities is the other.