Coming Together In Lucas Park

We skipped last weekend in Lucas Park but resumed work earlier today. This time we worked a reduced shift from 10am to noon-ish. In the past Andy Martello set up a BBQ to smoke meats & grill corn. We’d have a few of the local homeless because they knew that was the only way to get any of the food.

This weekend we skipped the food. We still had several homeless persons helping us in the park. I think we’ve earned their trust. That first day some were upset by our presence in their park. Over the last month they’ve seen we are not going to push them out. It has become our park.

Maureen had recorded a testimonial for Rice’s New Life Evangelistic Center. A few weeks ago she said she had not been paid for the work they gave her to do. Today she says she finally got paid but the additional work she was promised has not materialized. She does not feel safe on the street alone.

Over the last month barriers have been broken. Us loft dwellers that have been working in the park see the homeless in a new light. We’ve gotten to know many. They’ve gotten to know us. Fears of the other are diminished. We are all now acting different toward the other.

I didn’t get a picture of him but a man named Ernie also helped quite a bit today. Again no food was being cooked or offered. Ernie, Maureen & Farrell all helped because they wanted to help. Pride of place.

A month ago the park looked like this:

And a similar view this afternoon:

Homeless still use the park, I don’t expect that to change. But more and more residents are using the park
as well. We are mingling and getting to know each other. The experience has been nothing but positive for me and for many others.

On the 25th we’ve got a little Halloween event planned from 3-5pm in the park. We’ll have fun & games for the little ones. I think we are planning a costume contest for kids, adults & dogs.

With the bulk of the cleanup done we move into the next phase with a design charrette on Monday November 17th from 6pm-9pm. We need Architects – especially Landscape Architects to participate. An Arborist or two would be nice as well. Residents & the homeless will be represented.

For years now Lucas Park has been the meant homeless to many in our region. Now Lucas Park is becoming a place where we can all come together, talk and figure out our common bonds rather than our differences. We’ll never erase homelessness but we do our best to work for solutions to get the homeless off the street and into transitional housing as quickly as possible.

I realize everyday how lucky I am to still be living following my February stroke and 14+ hours spent on my cold concrete floor until my friend Marcia found me. I’m determined to make a difference for others.

Thoughts From The Downtown Resident’s Meeting

Last night I attended the Downtown Resident’s Association meeting at the Tap Room. My friend Farrell joined me. Farrell is between residences at the moment. Note I didn’t say my “homeless friend” as I have done before. He is a friend that happens to be homeless but like most of us we don’t want to be defined or labeled by a single factor. I don’t want someone to describe me as their disabled friend.

What was interesting was after the meeting when the last 5-6 of us headed down to the main bar. So here I am watching Farrell and Andy Martello bond. Martello is the downtown dad that circulated the petition to get Larry Rice’s New Life Evangelistic Center shut down (his blog, petition, RFT story). Farrell pointed out to Andy that Rice’s NLEC, despite it’s shortcomings (no computer access, no place to store belongings, outdated training), does provide a place to sleep and food if you are hungry.

Last night, seven blocks from Lucas Park, progress was made. Farrell thought it was interesting to hear the Mayor & residents talk openly about their concerns. Farrell was pleased as he heard compassion from downtown residents.  A few residents experienced a different side of homelessness — speaking with an educated, well-read individual who is able to articulate what he and so many others need. It focuses on transitional housing.  Having your clothing/possessions in the same place you sleep.  Better access to the web & email.  With the last meals served at 5pm it is hard to get a job and be back to Centenary for 5pm dinner.  How is a person supposed to eat until the first paycheck arrives?  Coordination of services is Farrell’s request.

I think the more downtown residents get involved in creating viable solutions the less homeless residents we will see on the street and in Lucas Park.

Mayor Slay To Address Downtown Residents on Thursday 10/9/08

Mayor Slay will attend and speak to downtown residents at the annual meeting of the Downtown Residents Association (DSLRA) this coming Thursday evening (10/9/08) at 7pm. The meeting will be upstairs at the Schlafly Tap Room at 2100 Locust Street.

No doubt Lucas Park and homelessness will come up at the meeting. Ald Kacie Starr Triplett recently announced that she had met with Mayor Slay and got his commitment for funds for improvements to Lucas Park. Triplett issued the following on October 1st:

(ST. LOUIS) – This morning, Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett (D-6th Ward) met with Mayor Francis Slay to discuss issues facing many of her downtown constituents. During the meeting, Mayor Slay committed to supporting additional funds for the maintenance and renovation of Lucas Park and promised to join Triplett at an upcoming public forum to discuss homelessness and hear from downtown residents.

“I am grateful to Mayor Slay for meeting with me. It is extremely important for the mayor to understand how critical these issues are to my constituents.”

“Homelessness is a regional problem. Yet, as a city we must take responsibility to ensure that appropriate services and resources are provided to our residents who are most in need. It is equally important that we continue to make downtown living the best it can be by promoting a safe, clean and pleasant environment for the residents who have chosen to invest in the revitalization and resurgence of Saint Louis’ city center.”

As sixth ward alderman, Triplett represents the heavily revitalized downtown loft district. Final details regarding the date, time and location of the community forum will be released at a later date.

People are taking notice. Jake Wagman over at the Post-Dispatch Political Fix noted:

When freshman Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett took office last year, she inherited a diverse ward with new construction, trendy restaurants and funky boutiques.

But her predecessor also left her an intractable problem that nobody at City Hall has so far been able to crack: Homelessness downtown.

For Triplett, the concern is focused on a specific area, Lucas Park, a one-acre oasis that sits parallel to the burgeoning Washington Avenue loft district. (full post with great picture)

As an aside, I’ll drive the four blocks from my house to the meeting as I cannot get from my house to the Tap Room in my wheelchair without having to go in the street due to frequently missing curb cuts. Sad being forced to drive a lousy four blocks.

Man’s Best Friend, A Uniter or a Divider?

Last evening I attended Larry Rice’s “Night with the Homeless” rally inside The New Life Evangelistic Center located exactly two blocks East of my downtown loft on Locust. In the coming days I’ll do a more complete report. With some exceptions Rice’s words were intended to paint the loft dwellers as newcomers hellbent on pushing out the homeless.

In the last month as local residents took an active roll in cleaning up deferred maintenance in Lucas Park I’ve seen so much more positive interaction between residents & resident homeless. I’ve become engaged in the struggle to the point where I’m doing what I can to understand the situation these people are in and to help in any way I can to get a few out of being homeless.

Although I knew this before I hadn’t really experienced it — much of the homeless population is just like you or me but without shelter. Last night KMOV’s Robin Smith said a very true statement – -“Most of us are one paycheck away from being homeless.” Sad but true and with our current economy things may only get worse.

To me dogs are like kids — I don’t have one but in small doses I like other people’s. Dogs can be a way to unite people. I’ve seen homeless & dog owners talking about the breeds and so on.  Granted,some of the dog owners need to learn to pick up after their dogs. Earlier this week Larry Rice was seen in Lucas Park with a photographer picking up dog doo. Photo taken and he is gone. The rest of us have spent hours in the park cleaning up green mud from under benches after spending more hours assessing the issues in the park and where we could make a difference. We’ve addressed maintenance issues long ignored by both the city & Rice.

Rice, I believe, doesn’t want residents & the homeless to have positive interaction as that will break down the wall he is trying to build between us.  I see dogs & the park as a means of increasing discussion & understanding on all sides.

blah.

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.