People Have Real Needs and I Want to Help

Starting Broad Street Ministry (BSM) changed my perspective on society. When we first moved into the Chambers-Wylie Church on the Avenue of Arts in Philadelphia, we were trying to appeal to young city-dwellers and families by placing an emphasis on the arts and a passion for social justice. But when we opened our doors, that’s not who showed up. We saw an influx of people who were struggling: the homeless, the poor and hungry, and those working without a living wage. It was shocking and eye-opening.

We never intended to become a hub for folks with these kinds of struggles. As a new community organization, we were worried that providing a hand up to those who came knocking on our door would strain our limited financial resources. But I had a gut check. At the core, that’s what my faith calls us to be about — that we be people of service.

If we could help our neighbors, we should be bold enough to try.

My name is Bill Golderer. I’m a husband, father, faith leader, social entrepreneur, and educator — certainly not your typical politician running for Congress. But that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m running to help overcome the cynicism and the polarization in Washington, DC and to get things done here in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. It is how I feel I can be of service to the communities I care so much about.

So, we committed ourselves to helping our neighbors.

When we started BSM in 2005, an overwhelming majority of our guests were homeless, or near-homeless, at one point in their life. Many were still struggling to get back on their feet. Over half had been to the ER over a short span of time. And with 90 percent of our guests under- or unemployed, we knew we had a lot of work to do.

After thinking about what we could to do help, we created the Broad Street Hospitality Collaborative — a dining and services arm of Broad Street Ministry.

In order to break through and see measurable improvements, we collaborated with experts from across many sectors and disciplines. We partnered with numerous nonprofits, some with differing faith perspectives, to start delivering opportunities to those in need. See, it’s not about whether everyone is coming from the same place, but whether we’re all headed to the same place.

We have provided meals, clothing, and care to thousands. We’ve provided shelter to those without a home. And, perhaps most importantly, we have provided a mailing address to our guests. It’s not something you’d think of initially, but giving folks a mailing address is actually the first step on a path to success. Without one, it’s incredibly difficult to apply for a job or receive veterans’ benefits. I’m proud to say, in 2015, our “satellite” post-office delivered over 100,000 pieces of mail for those rebuilding their lives.

What’s so remarkable and inspiring to me about BSM is that a community came together and made a positive and meaningful impact on peoples’ lives. It was life-changing for me. Working with partners, we were able to learn how to better serve and help the BSM community by conducting surveys and asking questions. Beyond improving our services, these surveys and conversations tell a larger story: that hard-working people need a fair shot at life. They need training opportunities; they need a one-stop-shop to get resources or seek help. They need people willing to imagine, collaborate, include, and commit to working on their behalf.

I want to give every Pennsylvanian, every American, a fair shot at opportunity and success. I’m running to represent a larger community that faces similar challenges and hardships. The reality is that far too many people in the shrinking middle-class are struggling but are silent about their struggles. They need a champion who has faced complex problems and has pushed through to achieve real results.

I have been close to people who have been in a mighty struggle just to survive. Unlike some in Congress, I can’t play ignorant to the struggles, suffering, and injustice that everyday people experience. The challenges facing those who hope for a bright future are great — but I believe — there are even greater opportunities and possibilities. While our Congress continues their partisan bickering, hard-working Americans are being overlooked. I believe we must move past gridlock and polarization and do the work of creating sound policy that keeps America as the beacon of hope.

That’s why I’m running for Congress. I hope you’ll join our campaign to shake things up, collaborate for solutions, and be of service to our neighbors.