Homeless Center Relocation Sparks Debate
By C.V.
Beck
Councilperson Bill Rosendahl held
a Town Hall meeting, February 6, at Penmar Park Recreation Center. The purpose
was to discuss with the community issues regarding the relocation of the St.
Joseph’s Service Center to their “old” thrift shop on Lincoln
Blvd. at Flower St.
Some of the near neighbors were very
concerned about this relocation, preferring, really, for these very needed and
well-utilized services for the homeless, to be “somewhere else” or
perhaps “anywhere else but here”,
unfortunately.
On the other hand, other
near neighbors were supportive and well-aware of the need for these services and
were of an accommodating and supportive nature, apparently realizing that in
anyone’s “model-perfect” life, sometimes things happen and
that they or someone in their own family, may need the kind of help that St.
Joseph’s has offered to the community of Venice for many years.
This was a very long meeting, lasting
past 9:30 pm. About half of those present and opposing, headed by
“SONIC” left then, having voiced their opposition to their
satisfaction and the remainder speaking in favor of the good that St.
Joseph’s does in this small beach community.
These affirmative voices included
Rhonda Meister, Sister Judy Molosky, presenting the St. Joseph’s
relocation plans, Kita Curry from Didi Hirsch MHC in Venice, other neighbors
like Dr. John, Ibrahim and Diane Butler, a Mrs. L. Barnet, a motorhome person
who spoke, saying that her motorhome was totally self-sufficient and that she
was clean and did not bother anyone, a Lincoln Place resident who spoke of the
need for the community to educate themselves on the services provided.
C. Beck, also of Lincoln Place, spoke
in favor and suggested the utilization of the vast unoccupied areas of Lincoln
Place as appropriate for transitional housing and senior housing (at least on a
temporary basis) and also for people living in motor homes and other vehicles as
members of the public, occupying public streets that were mostly empty and
available; and asked for people to “stop persecuting the
homeless”!
There were some
catcalls from different factions of the people present during the course of the
Town Hall meeting. Consensus is that this relocation is going forward with
conditions which will include a hot line to St. Joseph’s, that will be
enforced with vigor.
Posted: Thu - March 1, 2007 at 06:00 PM