Settled is a team of committed and curious families and individuals. We have developed our research-based approach of addressing homelessness through close relationships with the chronically homeless and those who serve them.
God's answer to homelessness is to put the lonely in families. We believe in family: God's family, the Settled family, and our individual families. Families are the support beams that help each of us stay stable and grow. By including our kids in this work, we unlock the kingdom itself.
Work was given to man before the fall. This is why we love our work! Work is not a burden, something to rush through, or a title to wield. We each have a voice of strength in the areas for which we are gifted. And we make our contributions wholeheartedly, without ego.
Each laborer takes what they need, relying on God to provide for us. Long ago, we decided to not accept Government funding. Instead, our provision comes from people who feel led to share what God has given them. Thank you, George Müller for inspiring this heart of faith within us.
Leadership strives to apply the highest standard of ethics including the care of people, the furthering of our mission, and active participation in the things we believe.
Gabrielle is a thought-leader in affordable housing and homelessness. She has devoted her life to walking alongside people in poverty, holding a profound conviction that we belong to one another.
Meredith has had an important career in advocacy for religious rights and justice. Her ability to assemble strong teams and equip them to accomplish goals is profound, and she does it with kindness and generosity.
Larry's extensive background in business management has helped Settled as an organization, but it is his experience of living as an Intentional Neighbor in Community First Village that makes his insights invaluable to our work.
Our Strategy is threefold.
Provide engagement opportunities for the Church to meaningfully love and lift their neighbors off the street through funding and building the homes and community assets to be used at Sacred Settlements.
Equip the Church for a lifestyle of radical hospitality and enduring relationships through the development and stewardship of tiny home villages on church land.
Inspire and model a shared way of life to be lived out in the Sacred Settlements through research, prototyping, and training that respond to the questions concerning home and community.
We have found that the best ideas are nearly impossible to see at first, and then once proven, become impossible to unsee.
Jaime is a life-giving soul. Her energy keeps all of us going. With a background in corporate change management systems, she understands how to help churches go from having a heart for homelessness to building and hosting a Sacred Settlement. And she makes the whole thing fun for everybody!
Brandon builds with a strong sense of quality and resourcefulness. This has made every dollar count as we pursue truly affordable housing. His ability to continually make meaningful advancements in materials and methods has been a key for us.
Ricky brings his skills in writing, and theological reflection to Settled. With the first Sacred Settlement established right in his backyard at Mosaic Christian Community, he sees this work as a tangible expression of faith—extending hospitality to those experiencing chronic homelessness.
John-David is a brilliant creative thinker. With a background in architecture and years of incorporating faith into family life, he is well-suited to lead the homestead. He has an innate ability to develop thoughtful experiences that connect Heaven to a person's heart.
Ideas only matter when they get woven into real life. Each of us, through our talents and courage, have the opportunity to create a piece of the whole.
Clare is full of useful knowledge ranging from herbs to tinctures to handmade goods. She structures Purposeful Workshops to feel real and inviting, full of community building moments! Her peaceful presence has a way of transforming the spaces she's in with warmth and humor.
One of the most powerful components of Settled is the feeling one gets when stepping into a Sacred Settlement home or Common Home. Mildred furnishes these spaces with practicality, frugality, and warmth.
Rose's pastoral role at Church of the Open Door has been a solid foundation for her work with Settled. She has a unique ability to connect with everyone she meets. Rose's relational guidance and fearless love inspire us all.
Daniel strives to tell the Settled story with conviction and authenticity. From design to filmmaking, his work is deeply personal and relational as he learns alongside the community. He believes the best stories are told from within.
Juston's adaptability and resourcefulness make him a great addition to our team as a carpentry apprentice. He is working closely with Brandon to craft custom items for our tiny homes for each Sacred Settlement.
Mischa is brimming with hope, meeting everyone exactly where they are. She is also a fine artist who's talents span visual and musical mediums. Her songs beautifully connect Heaven to Earth within each of us.
Fred's background in technology has equipped him to see the strengths of our model and identify ways of applying it further and deeper. He has always been willing to help when a need arises and is an eager learner, ever curious.
For decades Jerri has been learning and exploring new ways of living. She is constantly curious with research in topics ranging from food to housing to health. Her authentic knowledge informs the products we make and the lifestyle we aspire to.
David sees the world on multiple levels. With a background in illustration and fine art his thoughtfulness and humility can be felt in everything he makes. His work helps fill our stories with multiple levels of meaning.
As a former aerospace engineer, Larry knows that innovation is difficult because it is so disruptive to the normal ways of thinking. We are happy to have him applying his skills to an innovative alternative to the common toilet.
Valerie brings a confidence and precision to her work, easily adapting to any-task. Her eagerness to help and explore the community itself is inspiring. She is carried by a brilliant sense of humor, and leaves an impression on everyone who knows her.
Jerry's work can be found in every home and community space of Settled. He designs and builds furniture, swings, shelves, teeter-totters, custom closets, you-name-it — every piece contains his special blend of skill and meaning. His tireless dedication to the craft, inspires the next generation of carpenters.
Rachael is one of the most empathetic people you could ever meet. Her generosity extends in every direction. With a background in marketing, writing, and digital tools, she helps get our message out online. Yet it is her empathy that informs every decision, always putting herself in the reader's shoes.
Katherine is our Urban Planning & Design Strategist who helps guide churches through land use strategies, site plans, and community relationships. Passionate about helping people living in community as God intended, she brings a future-oriented vision to help Sacred Settlements flourish.
A shared way of life.