Dinner At Centenary Church of St Louis

Last night I joined the homeless at the dinner service at Centenary Church located a block south of my place. This was an unplanned visit.

My homeless friend, that I met 3 weeks ago at Lucas Park, stores his extra clothes at the Horizon Club at 23rd & Olive. However last night the facility was going to be closed for 24 hours for cleaning so all stored possessions had to be removed or they would be tossed. Several days ago I had agreed to store his items in the trunk of my car until Wednesday when he could return the items to his locker.

The Horizon Club opened last year as a “safe haven” drop-in center for 25 people at a time. It is open 24/7 except for this one day per month when it is closed for cleaning. Upon meeting my friend outside I asked if he could get me inside so I could see the facility. Several guys were waiting outside for a spot to open up inside. We got buzzed into a small lobby area where 5-6 more people were waiting. He got buzzed into the main space and then he went and checked with the staff to get permission to let me in.

The place has a large room to the left of the front door. Next to the staff desk is two computers connected to the internet – both were in use. There are various chairs, more computers with games and a TV area. Back near the entry are two bathrooms, each with a shower. To the far right is the locker room. A staff person must be present to let someone into that area. Again, the place was at capacity around 3:45pm with another 10 waiting to get in.

So after we filled my trunk with my friend’s worldly goods I asked if he needed a ride anywhere. He was headed to Centenary Church, down the street between 16th & 17th. When I pulled into the parking lot my first thought was just to drop him off and head back home for dinner. But then I thought what better time than the present to expand my understanding of homeless services.

No getting buzzed in here but the guard did “wand” us. Last year I spent a Saturday morning with my friend Robert Lipscomb serving breakfast at Christ Church Cathedral at 13th & Locust. Centenary’s space is substantially bigger, perhaps 10 times as much. I talked to a woman I had met at Lucas Park, she was at a table drawing. My friend and I sat and started chatting. Dinner service was to start at 5pm. About 4:30pm a volunteer began passing out numbers to those that are seated. I didn’t take one because it just didn’t seem right for me to eat their food.

A few rows over I spotted a guy that looked new. My friend confirmed as much. He was young, maybe early 20s. His white sneakers were still white. He wasn’t socializing with others and he had a sorta scared look on his face.

A guy joined us at our table. He looked familiar. He recognized me from the Lucas Park cleanups. Hard to blend in with a shaved head and a bright orange wheelchair I guess. We three talked about the petition circulated by Andy Mortello to shut down Larry Rice’s New Life Evangelistic Center. Andy is among the group of neighbors that has been working in the park. The new guy, Keith, indicated the guys staying up late and drinking in the park were not guests at Rice’s NLEC. Makes sense since those staying in the shelter must check-in by 5pm. I explained that I understood that not all homeless are the same. I also had to explain that not all residents were the same — we don’t all call the police or the health dept about drinking in the park or mass feedings. He had misconceptions about us and lumped us all together as the same. We do the same by lumping all the homeless into one big group. He works but just doesn’t make enough to get off the street yet.

We just want to cut down on things like public urination. Sunday I was coming home from the Taste of St Louis event. I was in the wheelchair on Locust at 15th — a block from my place. I was in front of the Campbell House Museum. Looking West toward the YMCA I could not believe my eyes – – a buck naked man on the sidewalk in the middle of the day! As a gay man I’m not adverse to such a sight but just not on the sidewalk mid-day. The man was changing clothes and I spotted him mid process. It wasn’t like he was trying to hide his business.

Back to Centenary.

At 5pm they began calling numbers in groups of 10 to get in line. My friends number was 62. Looked like a good meal, certainly better than a few I had in the hospital earlier this year. I indicated I’d have a tough time since I’m vegetarian. He said one woman who was often there was a vegan and they usually tried to accommodate her. He had a big slice of ham — not my thing. But the potatoes & green beans looked good! Hmmm, perhaps I should have taken a number….

I learned that numerous groups, often church groups, help Centenary with the meals which are served during the week (breakfast M-F, lunch M-F, dinner Sunday-Thursday). Last night they served dinner to about 150 individuals. Same is true for the other places that serve hot meals like St Peter & Paul in Soulard. I love that people donate their time & money to help feed others but it would be great if more of them would work in concert with churches like Centenary or St Peter & Paul.

I think one of the problems might be knowing where or how to help. Most people in the region know they’ll find homeless at Lucas Park so that is where they come trying to help. The problem with that is the park is my neighborhood park. Food debris attracts rodents. By all means I don’t want to discourage those that want to help.

While at Centenary my friend grabbed a resource sheet that is used to help the homeless know where to get a meal, clothes, a bunk for the night and so on. Even though I was in a Methodist Church they were gladly handing out this brochure created by Catholic Charities. Cooperation.

So in that spirit I scanned the brochure for all to view.

For more information on how to contribute to the solution:

• Centenary CARES (you can even donate via PayPal)
• Catholic Charities Housing Resource Center / St Patrick Center

So while I didn’t get a tray of food at Centenary, I did get something that will last much longer, new friends and a better understanding of their current situation.

Update 9/30/08 @ 11am – uploaded more clear version of the services brochure.

Hobo Park Becoming Lucas Park Again

After a 3rd Saturday of work in the park I think it is finally becoming a place where all will feel welcomed. Sorta.

One homeless man told me it is like having someone come into your living room and rearrange the furniture without consulting you. I can see that. This park, known to many as hobo park, is home to many. Now they feel like we are taking it away. Others see it like one of those decorating shows where someone comes into your home and gives it a much needed makeover.

I have no desire to make Lucas Park a homeless-free zone. However, I don’t want it such that it is used only by the homeless. Just like the housing projects where the concentration of poverty can be hard to overcome for those in it, the same is true for hobo park.

One of the biggest problems is the continual delivery of food to the park by well meaning church groups. Last night I headed past the park on the way to the store. A church from Fairview Heights Illinois was there passing out food from a church van. We simply cannot have our small urban park be the dumping ground for the region’s food donations.

Some say these groups need to open shelters & soup kitchens in their own backyard. Perhaps, but I do think a downtown is the best place to serve the needs of the homeless. This is not to say that all services must be in a downtown, just most. We do need to have services outside of downtown.

This can also help the homeless. For many this becomes a lifestyle that is hard to break free of. With transitional housing near a bus line away from downtown it can be easier for some to get & keep a job. The park/shelter model is just not conducive to getting beyond being homeless.

The trick will be is to figure out how to focus the many people who want to help by bringing vans of food to Lucas Park. Can we get them to work in conjunction with established places for feeding the homeless? One of the reasons the homeless congregate in Lucas Park is they want to be nearby when the groups bring food. This is not a good pattern.

The city has been trying to crack down on this by insisting any food be packaged food so they know how it was prepared. I’m not sure of the best solution to still have groups from all over the region contribute to the solution. Right now I feel like many are just contributing to the problem.

On Saturday we had a BBQ for those of us that worked in the park. We had one homeless guy help for several hours so we were glad to share with him. As we were eating another guy came up and asked what we were giving out. “Sorry, the food is only for those that helped clean up the park, ” we said. “That doesn’t make any sense,” he said.

Work remains. We are taking a needed break this coming Saturday with work resuming on Oct 11th & 25th.  A lot of the work involves changing perceptions on the part of residents, the homeless and those seeking to help the homeless.

I asked one neighbor if she ever brings her dog to the park.  She indicated no because she didn’t want her dog bit by a rat.  I’ve never seen even a field mouse in the park.  I have seen a few squirrels but that is it, no rats!

To see photos from all three Saturdays click here.

Driver Parks in ADA Loading Zone at Mobil Station

Most people are generally nice to me when they see me walking slowly with a cane. However yesterday I had words with a woman that parked in the loading zone next to my car in the disabled space.

I was at the Mobil Station at Delmar & Jefferson — the same one where a woman had visited and was later killed as she was using her wheelchair in the street due to poor sidewalks and missing curb ramps (see post from Dec 2007). After getting gas I parked in the disabled space so I could go into the store. A non-disabled woman was parked in the space while I was getting gas. The station at this time had 3-4 of their regular spaces blocked off while they washed the concrete. As I come out of the store and head to my car a vehicle pulls into the loading space to the left of the disabled space. The driver gets out and starts walking toward me heading to the entrance.

In my friendliest manner possible I said something like, “Excuse me, that space is marked no parking for a reason.” Her reply as she walked passed me, “Yeah I know.” My best response at the time was to call her a bitch. “Did you just call me a bitch? “, she replied. I confirmed, she laughed and continued into the store. I was so furious! A “normally I would never park there but they’ve got these spaces blocked” would have been nice. I don’t think she cared. When I got to our vehicles, with my cane in my right hand, I wondered how much damage I could cause with the cane. Of course I didn’t do anything but it was sweet thinking about it. Instead I got out my other weapon, my camera.

My regular camera was in the car so I used my phone to get a couple of quick shots:

Before getting in my car I stepped to the back to get a shot of the license plate.

I put my cane in the rear seat of my car and get into the driver’s seat. As I start the car she is coming out. Hopefully she saw me taking pics. I get my digital camera out, pull out of the space and start to leave. In doing this I’m right behind her vehicle as she is getting inside. I put down the passenger window to get an overview shot — again I hope she noticed.

I’d like to see these loading zone require a pole or other device to prevent someone from parking in them. Some are too narrow but most are wide enough where they are tempted to park there.

UrbanReviewSTL Honored Twice This Week

This week my blog received two honors.  First, the folks at Outside.In named UrbanReviewSTL the top blog for the St Louis area.  Check out their Blogiology 101: St Louis report.  Thank you!

And in this week’s RFT “Best Of” issue, UrbanReviewSTL was selected by the readers as the best blog.  This is the 3rd year in a row for that honor – thank you so very much!  Four years ago the editors named my blog the Best Civic Minded Blog.

The editors named one of my favorite blogs as the best blog, Angry Black Bitch.  I know Ms. Bitch and while she is black I don’t think she is all that angry or bitchy.  Except when writing, then it all comes pouring out.  Congrats Angry Black Bitch!

Thank you to all my readers, contributors of guest pieces and commenters.  Thank you to my friends for keeping the blog going following my February 1st stroke! – Steve

Lucas Park Events Being Planned

Two events are in the early planning stages – a Halloween event in October and a design charrette in November. This is basically a save the dates post.

Saturday October 25, 2008 we will have a “family friendly” event in the park with face painting, a series of costume contests (kids, adults, dogs), games and such. The event will run 4pm-8pm.

On Monday November 17, 2008 we will have a design charrette to look at the park long term with the goal being to get ideas to incorporate into an official master plan. This event will be held from 6pm-9pm
at the soon to open Crepes in the City at 500 N 14th (between Lucas Park & Washington Ave, on 14th).

A clean team crew from St Patrick’s Center has begun power washing the sidewalks and stone benches — it looks amazing! Crews have also started looking at problems with the sprinkler system. Once dark lights are working again. This park is now becoming a park for all downtown’s residents – owners, renters and homeless.

Details on the events to follow – stay tuned.  A website will be up soon to communicate upcoming events.
This Saturday September 27th we’ll have our third clean up morning.  Edging of the sidewalks will continue as will paining of the wood benches.  Stop by to help or just enjoy the park.  We start at 8am and go until noon.