Sunday, May 9, 2004

Max Ortiz The Rev. Faith Fowler

2OO3 Michiganians of the Year

The Rev. Faith Fowler: When the road seems to lead nowhere, she provides help for those in need

By Kate Lawson / The Detroit News

The Rev. Faith Fowler Age: 45 Residence: Detroit Occupation: Executive director of Cass Community Social Services and senior pastor of Cass Community United Methodist Church Why honored: For battling to make life better for Detroit's homeless Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

Quitter is the last word anyone would use to describe the Rev. Faith Fowler. But after five months, the newly named senior pastor of Cass Community United Methodist Church and executive director of Cass Community Social Services was ready to throw in the towel.

The problems with drug abuse, homelessness and poverty coupled with the church’s dire financial straits seemed too much to overcome.

But then she got the sign. Two prostitutes — one no older than 15 — showed up at her office one night. The older woman shouted, “Get her off my corner, right now!” recalled Fowler. But it wasn’t the competition that made her mad. “She told me when she looked at the girl, she saw herself years ago. She didn’t want the girl to end up like her.”

That’s when Fowler knew she was where she was meant to be.

In the decade since, Fowler has dedicated herself to giving hope to the homeless outside her door. That first year, Fowler operated on a budget of $900,000; today, it exceeds $3 million. Residential programs have been added, including Safe Haven, Mom’s Place, Mom’s Place Two and Transitional Housing. She also oversees the Activity Center for the developmentally disabled, a vocational training program, East Side Ministries for the mentally ill and the Mobile Outreach Team, which brings help to homeless people on the streets.

Then there’s the Scott Center, a $2.4-million renovated complex on Detroit’s west side that opened in 2002. It not only houses Cass’ social services, it’s also home to 42 homeless men with substance abuse problems. Fowler worked tirelessly to make it happen.

“She’s relentless in her pursuit of help for those folks who need it and invested not only her time and talent, but all her worldly possessions in order to serve others,” said John Ashcraft of Troy who attends Franklin Community Church, one of the many churches that have an association with Cass Community Church.

Fowler, who runs in marathons, explained her accomplishments this way: “When you get tired, you just keep running.”

In the past year alone, she’s been doing a flat-out sprint. She secured a contract to make 1,200 sandwiches a day for city of Detroit prisoners; that money helps fund the senior Meals on Wheels program. Then when Housing and Urban Development offered money for a shelter for homeless women and their children, Fowler had to find a location and equip it in 30 days. Now it’s the only shelter in Wayne County that allows mothers and children to stay together. (Other shelters require boys older than 10 to be housed with homeless men.)

A graduate of Albion College and Boston University School of Theology, Fowler earned a master’s in public administration at the University of Michigan “so I could figure out how to be an administrator, get funding, write grants, handle budgets,” she said.

Not one to sing her own praises, Fowler instead rejoices in the voices of the Cass Ambassadors, a group of formerly homeless drug addicts living at the Scott Center. She personally drives the men to locations throughout Michigan to perform at churches and centers. “They have such a tremendous talent and they’re so great at increasing awareness about the homeless,” she said.

“She never seeks the spotlight and is actually uncomfortable when it shines on her,” said Ed Hingelberg, development director at Cass. “But she does it for Cass.”