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"That's where we have Bible study," the young woman said, pointing to a comfortable common room in Mary's House, a residential drug-treatment facility.

Mary's House is a faith-based ministry that takes in homeless women and their young children for up to two years, while administering comprehensive substance-abuse treatment.

It was one of a dozen private agencies I visited one day last week, tagging along with members of the Community Resource Board. The tour was led by Susan Crotts and Shawna Tillery of the city's Department of Housing and Community Development.

The agencies had at least two things in common.

They all play a role in preventing homelessness, along with providing other services.

And they all receive city grants. They operate, in part, with public funds.

Most of the agencies also share another trait. Like Mary's House, they build their work on a foundation of religious conviction.

They include, of course, The Salvation Army, which is an evangelical Christian church as well as provider of social services; and Greensboro Urban Ministry, which declares its mission to be expressing "the love of God to people in need through practical action in the Greater Greensboro area."

The other faith-based organizations on our tour were Guilford Interfaith Hospitality Network, The Servant Center, Jericho House, Malachi House, Joseph's House and Room at the Inn.

Guilford Interfaith Hospitality Network hosts homeless families in area churches.

The Servant House is located between two churches on Lexington Avenue and interacts frequently with them.

At Jericho House, volunteer treasurer Jack Alford invited us to return for Bible study or Sunday morning worship with residents, who stay for up to seven months while they make the transition from prison to the community.

"We also encourage them to develop a strong spiritual foundation, and offer them an opportunity for church attendance, devotionals and Bible study," the agency's literature states.

Malachi House, which provides a multitude of services and opportunities for troubled men, was founded by a minister and occupies a former church.

Joseph's House likewise is directed by a minister.

Room at the Inn serves "single, abandoned, homeless, pregnant women" with a mission to "answer the call of Christ to respect and affirm life. ..."

My impression is that these all are extraordinary agencies working hard to meet real needs in the community.

The city recognizes the value of their services, which is why it supplies some of their funding.

But what about that religious component? Does that violate the doctrine of separating church from state (or city)?

I'm not bothered for a moment by the idea, but anyone who is should put his or her mind at ease.

City money comes with strings attached. The most important is that recipient organizations cannot discriminate or deny services on account of religious beliefs. They can't require anyone to participate in religious activities.

Clearly, they can "encourage." They can create an environment where participation might be expected. They can design programs that incorporate an element of spiritual development.

In large part, that's what makes them successful.

It can't be overlooked, either, that these agencies might not -- probably would not -- exist if people weren't motivated by their own faith to create and operate them.

Take Jericho House, a transitional home for as many as six men at a time. It is staffed entirely by volunteers. It runs on about $25,000 a year, about one-third of which comes from the city, Alford said. The rest comes from foundation grants, board members' pockets and fees paid by the residents from their own earnings.

Twenty-five thousand dollars a year to house and feed six men. Each one would cost taxpayers that much or more in prison.

Those men are not required to participate in Bible study or worship services. They aren't even required to stay.

"Early on, we had one guy come in the front door, put his stuff down, go out the back door, and we never saw him again," Alford said.

But two-thirds of the men who stay at Jericho House for at least a couple of months don't go back to prison.

I have a notion that Bible study and worship probably contribute to that success rate.

A little faith can be good public policy.