MONROEVILLE, Pennsylvania — Pastor Jason Howard is not political , nor does he see his role as the pastor of his congregation to favor a side, but he says he is intrigued to lead a discussion with Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) on the effect addiction and crime is having on our local communities across the country.
“When the campaign initially reached out to me and said, ‘Would you be willing to have a conversation?’ I said, ‘One of our big felt needs is this homelessness addiction crisis that we're watching play out in front of our eyes on the streets where we go all the time,’” explained Howard.
The campaign’s response, Howard said was, "‘J.D. would love to talk about that.’”
Howard said he was glad Vance is willing to talk about such issues.
“I thought these are important conversations to have, and these people are asking us to give them the highest level of power and authority, and we are all going to make a decision about whether or not we give them that authority,” Howard said. “And we shouldn't make that decision without hearing what they actually think about real problems.”
Vance will visit this western Pennsylvania municipality Saturday for a town hall meeting hosted by Christian broadcaster Lance Wallnau, focusing on the community effects of addiction and homelessness. The event will be moderated by Howard, whose three Sanctuary congregations in western Pennsylvania campuses are located in the south of Pittsburgh in Bridgeville, in Pittsburgh’s historic black neighborhood of the Hill District, and here in Monroeville.
Originally part of Amplify Church in Plum, Howard formed a new church called Sanctuary in January of this year. He is known for his ability to grow the faith community among local college students and young families who are attracted to the spirited services that are always filled with lively music.
Howard said he would be equally interested in having this kind of discussion with the Harris-Walz campaign if they reach out.
“If I can approach the issues of homelessness and drug addiction from a Christian standpoint, asking questions from a perspective of my faith, I want to hear what they have to say, and I would engage the Democratic candidates the exact same way,” he said.
“I am looking forward to discussing an issue that too often people in power sweep under the rug. Let me hear what you have to say about this because the truth is that this drug addiction, homelessness crisis, I don't see this problem fitting easily into liberal ideology or conservative ideology because, to me, the answer isn't just get rid of these people,” he said.
Furthermore, he said, “Conversely, the answer cannot be just let them do whatever they want. And that's kind of the way that this issue has been addressed. And none of that's helpful.”
Howard sees the problem first-hand daily right in front of the Sanctuary location, in the city’s historic black neighborhood.
“The city campus, which is our largest campus, we've seen over the last few years just unfolding on 5th Avenue in front of our eyes, is a crisis of humanity. And there are people who are on the street and it's very evident that they are suffering either undiagnosed or untreated mental health crises or addiction,” he explained.
The visual he describes is hard not to see as you drive down Fifth Avenue.
“The impact that it has on our attenders is twofold,” he said. “I mean clearly, there is a desire to help, but also it's sort of a loss for what to do because the average person on the street seeing this unfold, there are a lot of people who are clearly unwell and who are obviously a danger to themselves and can, at times, appear to be a danger to other people.”
Howard said he as well as his attenders see the violence on the streets and the open use of drugs.
“We've taken great care as a church to make sure that we have security, to make sure that we've got an overwhelming number of people out on the streets, so that when people are coming to church that there's safety,” he said.
Support from city services is nonexistent, Howard explained: “There's no support from the city to provide safety here,” he said while describing calls to 911 to report fights or drug deals.
“So as Christians, we care about these people,” Howard said. “These people matter. They're made in the image of God and they are suffering. And as Christians, we also are like we have to have order in our society, in order for our society to thrive and flourish. Both of those are necessary at the same time. It's not an either/or. It has to be both.”
In 2022, there were 4,703 reported overdoses in Pennsylvania, meaning 36.2 overdoses per 100,000 residents.
Homelessness in Pittsburgh has been a staggering problem, with the city’s once-lauded trail system clogged with hundreds of homeless tents, in particular along the Great Allegheny Passage, which connects Pittsburgh with Cumberland, Maryland, and the Three Rivers Trail along the Allegheny River.
The city’s growing homeless problem hit a 12-year high in 2022, with Mayor Ed Gainey and the city council struggling to find solutions despite the growing criminal activity that has come along with it.
In Vance’s New York Times bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, he has openly discussed his difficult childhood and how his mother, Bev’s past addiction struggles affected his family emotionally and economically. Vance shared even more about his mother and her addiction and recovery during his speech at the Republican National Convention in July, saying that both he and Trump are fighting for people, including single mothers such as his "who struggled with money and addiction but never gave up."
"I'm proud to say that tonight, my mom is here, 10 years clean and sober. I love you, Mom," Vance said, causing her to tear up as she hesitantly stood for the applause, receiving a long standing ovation as the crowd chanted "J.D.'s mom!"
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For Vance, Saturday’s town hall marks his third visit to western Pennsylvania in the past few weeks.
After the Monroeville town hall, Vance heads to Bucks County for a rally at the Newton Training and Event Center. Trump has been to the towns of Harrisburg, Johnstown, and Indiana in the past two weeks, he will do a rally in Erie on Saturday, and then he will return to Butler on Oct. 5 at the site where he was hit in the ear by a would-be assassin’s bullet.
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