A Homeless Day Center, the Perfect Mission

[ronchamblin]

While recognizing the probability that it will be quite a while, if ever, for the city to acquire the funds for a day center for the homeless and other needy people, and while up tonight getting my nightly beer, an idea arrived to my mind which filled it with a bit of excitement.  We can upgrade a building and operate a day center for those in need of it, utilizing an existing building not far from the city core, or on the edge of it.  Yes…….. we, the ones who wish to help the unfortunate who cannot help themselves, and we, who’ve become inpatient with the continuing presence of park occupiers.  And an added benefit to the project is that many of those who’ve been occupying the park will be willing to assist in the project.  Some might not be great assets in this endeavor, but many will.     

We have, building right before our eyes, not a perfect storm, but a perfect mission, shaped by the needs of those who’ve come upon bad times by whatever events or conditions, and shaped by the needs of a city core that’s become inpatient with harboring the needy in Hemming Park every day and night.

Most acknowledge that the city budget will not at this time allow for direct expenditure on a day center for the homeless and others with similar needs.  And apparently we must acknowledge that an increase in taxes to accomplish the day center project is out of the question.

Several kinds of skills will be needed to accomplish the project.  Large segments of the day center can be completed with volunteer work.  I personally will volunteer my time to accomplish whatever objectives that are set before me.  I suspect that many others who see the need for the day center, and who are sensitive to the needs of the unfortunate, will also volunteer their time.  To cover the labor and items which cannot be obtained via volunteering methods, a fund will be created to which anyone living within the county could contribute as they are able, and to the level according to their wish.

Time and non-professional labor are not the only needs.  Even though the building already exists, renovation is required.  So there will be a need for materials.  There will be a need for professional work from contractors.  Both of these things can be provided on a volunteer basis directly from material suppliers and contractors or, if not via volunteer, indirectly from money contributed to a fund by caring and concerned citizens.

So that the contributors and volunteers can be rewarded in a way other than simply the satisfaction of having volunteered their assets, a plaque could be designed and hung to the wall showing all of the contributors.  Perhaps there could be four levels of contributors, according the amount of money or time that was volunteered or contributed. 

To head the effort, project, or the “perfect mission”, a very small committee of perhaps three to five individuals could be gathered.  These individuals should have the skills needed, a strong sensitivity to the needs of the people for whom the project is directed, a determined desire to insure that nobody gains monetarily on the project, and enough time to volunteer some of their time.  The project would last perhaps one to two years.  The fund would continue indefinitely until tax money is available because it would require a moderate amount of money for its operation.  We might consider the possibility of obtaining Federal or State funding for the project, both for the renovation, and for continuing operation.  Once up and operating, I envision employing, at a reasonable rate, some of the very individuals who are now occupying Hemming Park all day long.     

The goal would be to design and build a facility which would offer to the needy a place to come in the day, a place to shower, wash clothes, a place to lock their belongings, a place to eat, a place to use the computer, watch tv, read and play games, and a place to socialize.  The center would offer a place where one could get counseling as needed for the purpose of encouraging steps allowing the individual to gain a solid direction to self-sufficiency.  Many of these individuals will probably go to the various existing centers to sleep at night.

The gain for the city would be that there would no longer be a necessity to entertain the idea of sterilizing Hemming Park in an effort to get rid of the day campers.  The gain for the nearby businesses is that they will no longer have to endure near as much panhandling and nuisance behavior.  The gain for all people is that the park will then be available for nearby workers, and for casual visitors to the city core.  Overall, the image of the city’s core park will be improved immensely. 

I envision the project as having its roots right here on Metrojacksonville.  The two to five individuals who eventually head the project could perhaps be members of MJ.  The project, if successfully embarked upon and completed, would be another clear message that concerned citizens can actually get things done outside of a governmental agency.

I don’t have much money now, and must begin soon on renovating the building next door for apartments.  But I do have for contribution, some time, some brains, some work, a large box truck with a hydraulic lift, a large trailer, many tools, and the occasional use of one of my workers, who happens to be a construction worker, and who was homeless in Hemming Park for three years before I hired him.

So, I leave the idea for a time with you, my MJ friends, to determine if the “perfect mission” is viable.  It might not be.  Perhaps I have reached a point in life wherein my nightly beer has gained the ability to cause excessive brain dysfunction. Any thoughts as to why the project might not be viable would be appreciated. 

If our discussion determines that the project is viable, then I, or someone else who might take a position to do so , will take steps to initiate a small group to proceed with it.  Perhaps someone who knows how to set up a voting counter could do so.  The choices would be "Viable" and "Not Viable".