Note: The content of this post was sent out in First Christian Church's newsletter last week. I've been remiss in posting it here.Last week, the St. Joseph City Council voted unanimously to release federal Community Development Block Grant funds for the construction of the Safe Haven homeless shelter. Thanks be to God! Despite the opposition of several anonymous downtown business owners and the fears and prejudices of some on the council itself, the money was approved and construction can begin on the shelter. I am extremely proud of and grateful for the members of First Christian who supported the shelter by attending last night’s meeting and the one on April 19, as well as those who wrote letters to the paper and o the council members themselves.
The council members deserve credit and appreciation for approving the funding for the shelter. I remain concerned, however, about the language used at both meetings by the council members regarding the homeless men in St. Joseph. From my perspective, most of the council see these people as a problem to be eliminated rather than as people deserving care and respect. My hope is that the council has learned through this process that the staff of Juda House, Interserv and other agencies are worthy partners for making St. Joseph a better place. It is worth noting, however, that what dialogue has occurred did not originate with the council and did not come about easily. The points raised by council members throughout this process seemed more like an echo of words spoken by a narrowly-defined group of downtown property owners rather than the perspective of political leaders charged with representing all people in St. Joe equally regardless of their status.
Given the council’s lack of understanding or apparent concern for low-income people in downtown St. Joseph, I now have concerns about another ministry that our church supports, The Open Door Food Kitchen. Council members have raised pointed questions regarding the Open Door in the last two meetings I have attended. First Christian has been instrumental in the founding and support of the Open Door since its founding. Our members have in the past and continue to serve as board members. Volunteers from our church prepare meals two days a month at the Open Door and routinely feed over 150 people a day. The director of Open Door, Judy Fleisher, told me last night that during the last week of April they served over 200 meals a day. Since our economy is not getting better, I fear the larger number will become the new norm.
The city council has concerns—raised by business interests—about the location of he food kitchen on Edmond Street. Some believe the presence of a food kitchen for low-income people in such a prominent place sends the wrong message about downtown St. Joseph. I am sure there are valid issues to be discussed in this regard, but the Open Door has its present location thanks to years of work, planning and fundraising—all of which has been done publicly and legally. There is a worthwhile debate that needs to happen regarding whether we will be a community that values the care for all of its citizens or a community that seeks to hide its low-income residents and their needs.
My anxiety over the council’s approach to the Open Door is based in large part over how little the council members seem to know about it. In the two meetings I have attended, council members seemed confused about who runs the Open Door. It is its own entity and is not run by Interserv or Community Mission as assumed by the council. They also seemed to be under the false assumption that the kitchen primarily serves homeless people. It primarily serves the working poor—people who have a permanent place to live and employment but who must make hard choices between things like food and medical care or transportation. Homeless people do eat there, but most of the people you meet there are coming off shift work, on their lunch hour or are disabled and/or unemployed. If the council does not even know these basic facts, how can they make fair judgments regarding the Open Door and its place in St. Joseph?
Stay tuned. I will share with you what I know as I know it. Let’s all work, hope and pray for a day when our political leaders, social service providers, communities of faith and our low-income neighbors can all work together for the care of all of God’s children in St. Joseph.
.
Grace and Peace,
Chase
The council members deserve credit and appreciation for approving the funding for the shelter. I remain concerned, however, about the language used at both meetings by the council members regarding the homeless men in St. Joseph. From my perspective, most of the council see these people as a problem to be eliminated rather than as people deserving care and respect. My hope is that the council has learned through this process that the staff of Juda House, Interserv and other agencies are worthy partners for making St. Joseph a better place. It is worth noting, however, that what dialogue has occurred did not originate with the council and did not come about easily. The points raised by council members throughout this process seemed more like an echo of words spoken by a narrowly-defined group of downtown property owners rather than the perspective of political leaders charged with representing all people in St. Joe equally regardless of their status.
Given the council’s lack of understanding or apparent concern for low-income people in downtown St. Joseph, I now have concerns about another ministry that our church supports, The Open Door Food Kitchen. Council members have raised pointed questions regarding the Open Door in the last two meetings I have attended. First Christian has been instrumental in the founding and support of the Open Door since its founding. Our members have in the past and continue to serve as board members. Volunteers from our church prepare meals two days a month at the Open Door and routinely feed over 150 people a day. The director of Open Door, Judy Fleisher, told me last night that during the last week of April they served over 200 meals a day. Since our economy is not getting better, I fear the larger number will become the new norm.
The city council has concerns—raised by business interests—about the location of he food kitchen on Edmond Street. Some believe the presence of a food kitchen for low-income people in such a prominent place sends the wrong message about downtown St. Joseph. I am sure there are valid issues to be discussed in this regard, but the Open Door has its present location thanks to years of work, planning and fundraising—all of which has been done publicly and legally. There is a worthwhile debate that needs to happen regarding whether we will be a community that values the care for all of its citizens or a community that seeks to hide its low-income residents and their needs.
My anxiety over the council’s approach to the Open Door is based in large part over how little the council members seem to know about it. In the two meetings I have attended, council members seemed confused about who runs the Open Door. It is its own entity and is not run by Interserv or Community Mission as assumed by the council. They also seemed to be under the false assumption that the kitchen primarily serves homeless people. It primarily serves the working poor—people who have a permanent place to live and employment but who must make hard choices between things like food and medical care or transportation. Homeless people do eat there, but most of the people you meet there are coming off shift work, on their lunch hour or are disabled and/or unemployed. If the council does not even know these basic facts, how can they make fair judgments regarding the Open Door and its place in St. Joseph?
Stay tuned. I will share with you what I know as I know it. Let’s all work, hope and pray for a day when our political leaders, social service providers, communities of faith and our low-income neighbors can all work together for the care of all of God’s children in St. Joseph.
.
Grace and Peace,
Chase
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