Homelessness Addressed

[KeithE]

[Haruo]

Maybe they're hoping to attract homeless people so they can turn them into Mormons? I mean, and I mean it seriously, a real problem with this sort of thing is that it requires city limits to be treated like national borders, with Border Patrols and electrified barbed wire and such, because otherwise (as long as only a few places are doing it) the result will be that numerous homeless folks who live elsewhere will immigrate to the city or state in question and drive up the cost of the program (even though the cost per capita may well be a bit lower than projected due to volume efficiencies).

[Ed Pettibone]

[KeithE]

[KeithE]

[Ed Pettibone]

Ed: Keith when you say "Truth is there are empty buildings near most anywhere in this country. While they may not be apartments, they could be used to shelter many people at very minimal costs this winter." How do you define "very minimal costs" ?

COST
Turning on utilities

Gas

Electric

Water

----------------------------
Insurance

Comprehensive
&
liability

-----------------------------

Staffing

Desk clerk

First aide specialist

Dispute resolution specialist

Janitorial

Security

Ect;


--------------------------
And of the many empty buildings, how many will meet published minimal standards for health and safety for habitation. ?

[KeithE]

A lot of sheltering could be done with a key.

[Mrs Haruo]

I know a lot of big churches that are pretty empty during the week. Building maintenance has to be done and utilities paid for whether the church is empty or not. I know a lot of churches that are actively breaking the cycle of homelessness by things as simple as providing a place to shower and wash clothing, and a place to get mail and phone messages that doesn't scream HOMELESS PERSON to prospective employers. A closet of interview appropriate clothing for someone who has lost everything but what they can carry and just needs a fresh change of clothes and a bus ticket or two to make some connections. Someone to listen and help you handle your problems one at time and maybe go WITH you if that's what it takes. When you have had door after door slammed In your face, it can be pretty easy to curl up in the corner with a jug of El Vino Cheapo and give up on yourself.

[Mrs Haruo]

Seriously folks, I want to know, because I have BEEN chronically homeless at a few times in my life. How do your churches, How do YOU deal with the increasing problem of homelessness in our own country? I have found myself turned away from a"Christian Service Center" outside Subic Bay Navy base, because they had never had the opportunity to extend their hospitality to a Christian Service WOMAN before, and apparently that day, they sure were not going to offer my a safe place to sleep that day either. It was martial law- third world and worse conditions in the streets outside the gates of the base, which locked at curfew. Really impressed the sailors who had agreed to safely escort me there.
What do you think it does for your witness to the down and out who you are afraid to catch something from if you force a hungry, thirsty cold person to listen to songs played on an out of tune piano, then a long sermon, before they are expected to show gratefulness for a dried out sandwich and a carton of milk that went sour long before it was delivered to your mission house? The woman you treated like dirt and assumed she was another wino or druggy may just need a shower and a change of clothes before feels fit to enter your church. Last year she may have been an IBM corporate wife, secretary of the PTA, and Childrens Church helper at your church. That was me folks, after I overstayed my welcome at a battered women's shelter in San Jose California in 1995. Gave me a sour taste toward protestant churches in general after a few slaps like that in my Presbyterian-Mennonite Brethren-Nazarene face.
Contrast that with the welcome I received when I fainted while waiting in line at a social services office-- when asked when I had my last meal, was led up the hill to St. Lawrence's Lunchroom-- where I was cordially greeted by a friendly volunteer at the back door to an old Catholic church, and helped to a table, where Nobody asked about if I was saved, they just brought me a generous plate of nicely prepared food, a cup of coffee and anything else they had available that day. All donated food or gleaned from local restaurants and freshly served up in the kindest manner-- as long as you minded your manners and followed a few rules listed at the door, anyone was welcome, and many people staying in local transitional housing were working there. Are you cold? Do you need a jacket or a sweater? There's a clothing room over there,Ma'm.
Posters around the room gave information about a health clinic's available hours, where to get a TB test - temporary jobs available, leads for housing--- and if you want to know why we do this or want to talk with a priest- he's over there in the green shirt, pushing the broom.....