THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502170225
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Another View
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
The cover story and an editorial on the proposed homeless shelter in Portsmouth (Feb. 5 Currents) contained several statements that need clarification.
Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless is a coalition of local church congregations, various agencies within our city, and other interested individuals. Our goal is to minister to the needs of the homeless single men and women in Portsmouth. We are planning to do this in two phases. The first phase is to provide a permanent shelter and meals. The second phase involves channeling these individuals into local agencies to receive help in many different areas (counseling, job training, money management, literacy, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, etc.) providing encouragement and follow-up.
Five Downtown churches are opening their facilities as shelters on a rotating basis, while other congregations in Downtown, Midtown and Churchland provide food and male volunteers to stay overnight and manage the shelter. These congregations are bearing the costs involved in providing heat and electricity, disposable plastic and paper products, storing cots and blankets, and providing food and beverages. The host churches also are giving up the use of their facilities for their own programs and special events during their rotation weeks. At the end of the rotations, all of the cots, blankets and other items have to be transported to the next location. Wouldn't it be a better situation on all concerned if this could be carried out at one permanent location?
The editorial stated that the numbers of homeless have been ``grossly exaggerated by advocates seeking public assistance for their projects.'' The numbers we have stated are not exaggerated. The average number at the shelters has been 40. However, in the first eight weeks, 172 different individuals were assisted at the shelters. While some might believe that 40 is not a significant number, would the editorial writer feel different if he or she were among the 40? Every person is significant.
I challenge the editorial writer to name some of the programs available in Portsmouth that meet the needs of the homeless. Where do you go for a roof over your head, running water, toilets, food and a place to sleep out of harm's way if you are a homeless in Portsmouth?
I don't know where the editorial writer got the information that ``many are street people by choice.'' In my work with these individuals I have had one person tell me that he liked living on the street. Every other person I've talked with has wanted to have a home and the means to support himself. There are as many reasons for homelessness as there are homeless people. There is no single reason. They cannot all be grouped together.
It is not the goal of PVH to provide a shelter to become ``a magnet for homeless people from other cities in the middle of Downtown.'' We are trying to provide a solution to a problem that already is present in Portsmouth. Without a place to go these people have no choice but to be on the streets, on the benches at Portside or along High Street or in abandoned homes and businesses in Downtown areas. By providing a shelter, these individuals will be off the streets, in a single location and receiving help.
I would like to clarify that PVH has not selected any particular site, in any particular section of the city. We have talked with the mayor and various representatives of city agencies and have been told areas that would not be acceptable. We understand the reasoning behind this. We have never looked at, or considered the old Portsmouth Catholic High School site, nor have we looked in the ``Effingham Corridor.'' It does make sense that any program of this nature would be located in the area of Downtown because of the fact that the vast majority of the people in need of these services are on Downtown streets.
While the architect's renderings were shown in the article, it must be pointed out that this is only one of many avenues being traveled by our committee as a possible course. It could very well be possible that some existing structure could be used to house the homeless.
While I concede this being a difficult situation, I don't see it as having to be one that causes division or any ill will. Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless wants to work with our city government and its agencies to meet the needs of the homeless in Portsmouth. We all have an obligation to help those in need.
David W. Stephenson
President
Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless
Feb. 11, 1995 by CNB