Muslim Women Who Become Homeless Have Limited Options

Imam Hassan Amin of Masjid Us Salaam in downtown Baltimore said more Muslim women are seeking shelter. "I've been dealing with women who would come to us and don't have any place to stay. . . . It's a big issue."

If the women end up at Christian-oriented shelters, they are asked to "come out of their Muslim dress," Amin said. "There are almost always prayer circles, and they play gospel music. Muslim women . . . are pushed to be a part of that group."

Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the D.C.-based National Coalition for the Homeless, said the Washington region has about 12,000 homeless people on any given night. There are more than 740,000 nationwide, according to 2005 data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Stoops said most shelters are privately run. The largest shelter organization is Catholic Charities, he said, followed by the Salvation Army and the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. Traditionally, Stoops said, many Christian-oriented shelters -- he called Catholic Charities an exception -- have offered clients "soup, soap, sleep and salvation."

Stoops added: "I've always found that to be offensive. Shelters in this country need to get with this century."

Phil Rydman, spokesman for the Kansas-based Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, said policies on attending worship services vary within the association's network. "It is generally not required," he said.

Steve Morris, commander of the Washington area Salvation Army, said the Christian charity imposes no worship requirement on people it shelters. "Each of our housing programs in D.C. offer opportunities for worship, but it is clearly at the discretion of the client," Morris said. "We have a chapel on site and hold regular services there, but clients are free to choose to attend."

Most women staying at al-Mumtahinah in Baltimore were dressed in scarves and long robes. Some covered their faces almost completely. McIntosh opened the shelter, whose Arabic name means "to be examined," in March with help from Muslim donors.

In 2003 and 2004, McIntosh was homeless herself in Texas after she lost her job. She said she was assured when she sought shelter from the Salvation Army that she would not have to attend church services, which she would have considered a sin against her Islamic faith.

But the first night she was there, McIntosh recalled, the woman who had given the assurance ordered her to go to Christian worship or pack her bags. "I left," McIntosh said.

Based on her experience, McIntosh decided to open the shelter when she moved to Baltimore. She said she was stunned by the extent of the problem. "A lot of sisters are sleeping at the mosques," she said.

Kenyatta El Sa'id Farag was one. A Muslim convert, she makes $25 every Friday cleaning bathrooms at a nearby mosque. That is not enough to support her and her 12-year-old daughter.

"I know I'm going to have hard times and easy times," said El Sa'id Farag. "I have a roof over my head."

She squabbles frequently with McIntosh, who is trying to encourage her to get a better-paying job instead of waiting for someone to come rescue her from homelessness.

"I know good and well I'm not going on welfare," said the mother, while mopping up syrup with a waffle in the shelter kitchen.

Out of earshot, McIntosh explained why she has been encouraging El Sa'id Farag to look for more work.

"This is not a free thing," she said. "I have to pay for it. If you're not using the space to help better yourself, I can't help you."