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Summer 2009 News

A Difficult Summer…

We have been very active in preparing for our 2009/2010 Shelter Season.  We found ourselves needing to address different challenges in how to better care for our guests, care for our hosts, spread the word, fund the ministry, and hone policy issues. Meanwhile, we have been recovering from last season’s activities, from laundry to ongoing struggles to keep our friends safe during our hiatus; all very challenging.

No Longer a Code Blue Shelter

Code Blue is an emergency plan during periods of extreme, life-threatening weather, defined as a wind-chill factor of 20°F or below. There are many public agencies and private health/social organizations that offer expanded services for those without adequate shelter, including the chronically homeless and homeless families with children during Code Blue. The goal of the Code Blue plan is to provide access to temporary shelter, food and clothing to those in need, when temperatures dip below freezing.

The MAIN St Shelter accepts those who come to us without exception whether it is Code Blue or not. As a Church Ministry, we welcome the stranger, the foreigner and the poor, as a normal part of our ministry, throughout the shelter season.  But, out of a growing feeling of responsibility to our guests and the host churches, we have changed some things to consider the occasional individual that might make it unsafe for the other guests. As a Code Blue Shelter (and without funding to augment the shelter’s staffing needs during these times), we will be sending those individuals to the appropriate agencies that are qualified and funded to help this minority of Pottstown’s homeless population.

MAIN St Intake Center

We have been working to create a central Intake Center at St John’s Parish House, 75 E MAIN St, in N Coventry, for processing new guests out side of the host churches.  Doing “off-site” intakes will assist us in being attentive to those coming into MAIN St for the first time, giving them bedding, doing interviews and paperwork, and slowly acclimating them to our shelter. We hope this also helps us to attend more fully, to the guests as they come in nightly; to feed them, and settle them for an evening’s rest.

We will not be allowing guests to “store” anything at the host churches through the day, as well as throughout the evenings.  The only storage will be mattresses and one bedding bag per guest.

During the days, we hope to encourage people to connect with case workers, look for employment opportunities, keep medical appointments, etc., without the need to return to the host churches since they will not have anything stored there.  

The Bigger Picture

Sometimes people just need to be told that they are allowed.  It’s true within Christ’s Church too.

[Christ] handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teachers to train Christ's followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. Eph. 4 .11-13

Our work together has been noticed outside of our area. There are a number of churches, from Bucks County, PA, to Washington DC, to Nairobi Kenya, that our work is seen as a gift, and the cooperative sheltering model is beginning in other places. It is the Church of Pottstown that is truly calling to the world with a Reformation of Christ’s Care and Ongoing Ministry in the world.

Fundraising, Laundry & Webtools

We are actively engaging our community, inviting them into caring for our least, through fundraising opportunities, raffles, and Ministry representatives at local events.

We are slowly finishing our laundry duties and finishing work on the Intake Center, but we could use help this month as a final push through to the 2009/2010 season.

You can help with new guest intake through our new Referral WebTool. You can confidentially sign people up for shelter at MAIN St through your PC. Visit www.MinistriesAtMainStreet.org and click on the “MAIN St Online Intake Form” link.

January 15, 2009

Homelessness Looms as Potential Outcome of Recession

Recessions mean more homelessness. Increasing numbers of unemployed people are unable to afford rent, and charities and local governments are unable to keep up. Based on estimates of the depth likely to be reached by the current recession, 1.5 million additional Americans are likely to experience homelessness over the next two years, over and above the number who usually become homeless. However, the worst increases in homelessness can be prevented by providing emergency assistance to help stabilize or rehouse people experiencing a housing crisis.

The National Aliance to End Homelessness has issued this important summary.

January 2008

Here is the latest from the Township Supervisors’ lawyer…

The short version is that they want to force us to subdivide the church property into two different parcels. Afterward, the church building would stay an assembly for church activities, and the parish house would be a boarding house.  This would make the church landlords.  The parish house would cease to be a place for ministry and worship, affectively becoming a residence.

This is simply unacceptable.

Please contact the North Coventry Township Supervisors Board, voicing your concern, and urging them to do what is right for those who have the least among us.  It is sad enough that these folks have nowhere to sleep, without dashing all of their hope for the smallest amount of dignity.  It is also a shame that our local leaders seek the lowest politically expedient levels of catering to a very few, rather than finding righteous paths to care for the least.  It is a shame that “politics as usual” can shelf the good works of the Church, forcing us to focus on this kind of stuff, rather than the good work of the ministry.

Please pray for this effort with an open ear.  God usually answers our prayers by using us on His behalf.  A humble servant who serves on behalf of the least, responds to God’s grace with “Here I am LORD… send me…”

Here is the applicable contact information for the “powers” that currently hinder our work, and/or could ultimately help us…

Please Contact the North Coventry Supervisors:

Township Office Building  610-323-1694

Kevin Hennessey, Township Manager 610-323-1694  twpmgr@northcoventry.us

Andrew J. Paravis, Chairman 610-327-8508  aparavis@northcoventry.us

Erwin B. Jenschke, Jr (Bud), Vice Chairman 610-469-3819  budjens@northcoventry.us

E. Kent High

Harvey F. Greenawalt, Jr.  hgreenawalt@northcoventry.us

Jim Marks 610-705-4014  jimmarks@northcoventry.us

Deborah Russo,  Code Enforcement Office  610-323-1694  drusso@northcoventry.us

Ron Comtois, Fire Marshall  610-323-8360  fm17@northcoventry.us

Please Consider Contacting our State Representatives:

State Senator 6th District Jim Gerlach  610-458-8010

State Senator 44th District John Rafferty 610-469-8390

State Rep. 26th District Tim Hennessey  610-326-2626

“Ministries at Main Street” calls the church to BE THE CHURCH, caring for the poor as Jesus Christ has instructed us.  We the “Ministries at Main Street,” have been called and sent to be the light of the world on behalf of Jesus Christ.  We shine that light in the direction of all who are without permanent places to live, inviting them to come and be fed and offered a bed.

Questions asked of us by our neighbors in and around Main Street, along with our responses:

Points of Concern and Questions

1.      The close proximity of the middle/high school and elementary school bus stops in relation to the shelter's front doors, as well as the fact that the middle school students board the bus in semi-dark conditions for a portion of the school year. Will the residents be kept inside during the times the students are loading and unloading?

A.      Yes. Until 8:00 am, when they are transported into town.  Some, however, do walk.

2.      The Coventry Little League fields that operate for more than half the year and the amount of children involved in activities there. (Safety issues)

A.      The fields are used approximately 3 months out of the year.  They are supervised by coaches and parents while there.  No one going inside is screened, meaning if there is someone intent on criminal activity, there are no barriers or monitors to them currently.  Those attending the shelter are monitored, and very strictly.  Having a shelter actually increases protection for a community, when they work closely with law enforcement, which we intend to do, as we did before.

3.      There are several elderly residents that do not drive and have to walk to tend to their day-to-day errands. (Safety issues)

A.      Same as above.

4.      There is a daycare center within a block and 1/2 of the shelter. (West Main Street)

A.      Same as above, and to the best of our knowledge, daycares are required by law to be locked.

5.      There are approximately 24 children under the age of 14 that belong to just the East Main Street side that have free play of the neighborhood. Will there safety be jeopardized at any time?

A.      No.  The shelter operates from 10:00 pm through 8:00 am.  Children are under a 10:00 curfew in North Coventry and are not permitted to be out without adult supervision.  8:00 am Children at the bus stop are currently monitored by parents.

6.      There is a dead end with thick woods at the end of East Main Street. (Just a concern)

The shelter changes nothing here, and contributes no impact to the neighborhood.

7.      Why have the residents not been notified via a letter or meeting (aside from the paper) as to the proposal for a permanent shelter or given any other information regarding it?

A.      A neighborhood picnic was planned to discuss our intent with the neighbors.  However, there were those within local government that thought that we should just deal with things if complaints should arise, on an individual basis.  We relied on their expertise in this judgment.  We apologize.

8.      What is going to be the criteria and guidelines followed for processing each person into the shelter?

A.      We mirror what is currently in use by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, and freely share information, to and from them, as well as Chester, and Berks Counties.  We also work very closely with Health and Social Service agencies locally.

9.      What issues will the residents have? (Drug/Alcohol addictions, criminal records, mental illnesses).

A.      The people who stay at the shelter, are not residents—they are guests.  Some do suffer from addictions and/or mental illness, and are in our neighborhoods now.  Should someone with criminal behavior in their past seek shelter, we are able to obtain this information as they are checked through our intake process; through our shared information with the counties, and anyone who poses any kind of a threat is redirected to qualified shelters/programs/law enforcement/etc.  It is also fair to note that our guests included a Physiologist, an historian, local war heroes, business owners, people who are very well read, the handicapped, law-abiding, religious, and many of whom are employed.

10.  Will there be any sex offenders permitted to reside at the shelter and if so will they be registered under Megan's law?

A.      On a case by case basis.  Also, we have no control over the Megan’s Law registry, just as our neighbors do not have the ability to block a new neighbor.

11.  What times will the residents be allowed into the shelter and at what time each day must they leave?

A.      10:00 pm till 8:00 am.

12.  How long (ex. 1 month, 2 months) are they allowed to reside in the shelter?

A.      As long as they need Christian ministry and help.

13.  What will be the maximum amount of people allowed in the shelter at anyone time?

A.      We are prepared for a maximum of 30, but will not turn away those finding themselves in emergency situations.

14.  How many people will be supervising the residents during each time frame? (Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Overnight)

A.      Overnight staff is a total of three.

15.  What qualifications will these supervisors have in regards to dealing with persons with special circumstances or addictions? Degrees, experience?

A.      Please see question 8, and know that staff is trained, accordingly, in support of our mission.

16.  Will the shelter be locked down during certain hours (particularly overnight from dusk till dawn) to maintain the safety of those at the shelter as well as the neighborhood residents?

A.      Yes.  There is a curfew of 12:00 midnight, with allowances made through staff pre-approval for working conditions, such as backshift, or early morning start times.

17.  If there are problems that should arise, who can homeowners/renters contact? (Aside from the church officials)

A.      Neighbors always have the emergency numbers for local governance, but a more direct answer can be provided by the Church office.  (610) 326-1120.

18.  Is the Parish House zoned for this type of use?

A.      We are working with the Township.

19.  Is the building within codes to house many people and are there drills and enough exits to get the residents out should a fire or flood occur?

A.      The building is currently undergoing work to make it safe for our guests, including fire safety and emergency evacuation procedures.

20.  Where will the residents be from? Are they all local within the Pottstown area?

A.      Yes, the guests are from our area.

21.  How will the residents be getting to and from the shelter each day?

A.      We provide transportation from two local spots in Pottstown.  Others walk.

22.  Will the establishment of the shelter affect our property value or the chance for resale of our homes?

A.      Not to our knowledge.

23.  Have any other more rural locations been considered as an alternate to this location?

A.      Yes, other locations were considered.  The cost of running a shelter is formidable, and the additional cost of buying and renovating a building makes it impossible to establish—particularly when people are in need now.  St John’s owns their property, eliminating this cost.  And most importantly, this is the historic, and religious work of the Church for 2000 years.

24.  Will state agencies as well as the Board of Health be involved in the daily operations of the shelter?

A.      As mentioned earlier, we work closely with County officials.