Eradicating Systemic Poverty

Eradicating Systemic Poverty Team

Poverty results from structural barriers, not personal choices.

Let’s build a future where everyone everywhere has the opportunity and power to thrive.

Our Focus

Frame Church has long contributed in many ways to alleviate symptoms of poverty in our community. The Eradicating Systemic Poverty initiative adds a focus on upstream (systemic) causes and solutions. We are committed to working collaboratively with other congregations, organizations and individuals as there is great potential in collaborative action.

Structural barriers that create and perpetuate poverty limit

access to vital resources like high-quality education, healthcare,

transportation, housing, and employment by creating systemic disadvantages

for marginalized groups. These barriers are often embedded in the policies,

practices, and norms of society and can be rooted in historical injustices,

such as structural racism. For instance, discriminatory hiring and lending

practices restrict access to capital and good jobs, while the lack of

affordable housing near job centers confines individuals to areas with fewer

opportunities. Overcoming these barriers requires systemic changes to

redistribute power and resources, addressing the root causes of inequality to

foster greater economic mobility and stability.

Our strategies include advocacy, collaboration, education, and utilizing

our resources for good.

Assisting Our Neighbors in Need

Frame provided space in our building for a winter overnight warming shelter for many years. We continue to support our unhoused neighbors as the city transitions to a new year-round shelter.

We are an active member of One Big Tent, a coalition of churches, non-profits, and individuals who provide support to unhoused or housing insecure individuals. This includes information about available resources in the community.

We are collaborating with Partnering Together to establish a location in the community for wrap-around services, emergency housing, transitional housing and laundry facilities. A member of our team is on their Board of Directors.

Supporting the Development of More Affordable Housing

We are advocating for zoning changes that support more affordable housing in the City of Stevens Point.

We are also advocating for affordable housing to be included in the large downtown development across the street from our church. Plans for this development include housing, business/retail, and transportation.

We support the new Portage County Community Land Trust and have a member on their Board of Directors.

Other Areas of Interest

We support Affordable Health Care by advocating for Medicaid and promoting the new Noble Clinic, which offers affordable healthcare services for all ages and health requirements. Their services include medical, dental, behavioral health, substance use recovery, pharmacy, and chiropractic.

We assist former foster care kids in transitioning to higher education.

We are continually examining how we (as a congregation and individuals) use our resources in a way that reflects our values.