The City of Wichita's report says more than
The LORD make His face shine upon thee,
and be gracious unto thee;
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee,
and give thee shalom. (peace)
Bemidbar (Numbers) 6:24-26
AECH
Advocates for Ending Chronic Homelessness
Objection and Response Sheet regarding the Campaign
And whether theres a need for a 24/7 Shelter
The Reality: Doubts exists about the need for a 24/7 shelter. But, the facts tell us there are more than 730 reasons this shelter must be built.
Objection:
It costs a lot of money; $1.4 million plus ongoing costs to operate the facility. Where will the money come from? Wont it just be taken away from other agencies who are already working on the issue?
Response:
Creating new monies is indeed a challenge. One proposed option that is being seriously considered in Wichita is a Housing Trust Fund. AECH sees this as critical for ending homelessness and prevent future homelessness. The Trust Fund will create a dependable fund that will support housing and homeless housing needs of extremely low-income persons. The Housing Trust Fund is designated yearly funds. This will not only help operate the facility, but help solve the problem of Homelessness. It will help get them into safe, accessible and affordable permanent housing.
Objection:
Many people say we already have enough emergency beds for the homeless. We simply need to figure out how to get them to the right places.
Response:
The maximum number of homeless shelter beds in Wichita is 345. Numbers are not the only criteria for determining space however. Shelter beds may go unused because homeless persons needing emergency shelter do not meet the admission criteria. The following factors are some that need to be taken into consideration when determining available shelter beds:
 | Most family shelters do not accept single men. |
| Few shelters accept single men with children. |
| Only one shelter (we know of) accepts single men experiencing domestic violence. |
| One shelter accepts men only. |
| Shelters have rules that do not let a homeless person or family return to their shelter for a period of time (often 6 months) after they have exited. |
| Most shelters will not accept those who are homeless and under the influence of drugs or alcohol. |
| The location (accessibility) of a shelter is important. Some shelters are located a distance away from the core of the city where most homeless gather and search for shelter. One shelter has two daily pickups 5:30pm at the Lords Diner, and 6:15pm at the city library. |
| There are homeless (women and men) high on drugs or alcohol who have no option for shelter (except when the temporary Overflow Shelter is open). |
| There are homeless who have been kicked out/exited from shelters and not welcome to return. |
| There are homeless people who refuse to enter any of the existing shelters due to house rules, bad experiences, or the religious environment that creates discomfort. They do however choose to stay at a low demand shelter with rules similar to that of the temporary Overflow Shelter (no restrictions except they must respect other persons and property). |
A list of primary Homeless Shelters in Sedgwick County include:
1. Inter-Faith Inn 50 beds
2. Union Rescue Mission *200 beds
3. Salvation Army Emergency Lodge 16 beds
4. Catholic Charities Anthony Family Shelter 32 beds
Total 298 beds
* We are not certain how many beds. Last report is that they will shelter up to 200 - some on floor mats.
A list of Women's Domestic Violence Shelters include:
1. Catholic Charities Harbor House (womens shelter) 23 beds
2. YWCA Safehouse (womens shelter) 33 beds
Total 56 beds
IMPORTANT: We are not critical of the "house rules" or the restrictions that shelters have created to regulate the population they serve. We only want to make certain that within our city there is shelter space for all homeless people plus available supportive services. At the present time there is a shortage of shelter space.
Objection:
We have over 300,000 people in the Wichita area. If we only have 700-1000 homeless and we have emergency beds for half of them, do we really have that big of a problem? Thats less than two tenths of one percent of our population. That seems pretty good.
Response:
If you look at it this way, yes it sound like theres not a real problem. But these are not just numbers, they are human beings. Dont they deserve to be cared for?? What if they were your family?? No one should have to live under a bridge or in a box. We can do better than this!!!
Objection:
Many of the homeless really dont want to be helped. They are satisfied where they are as long as they get some food.
Response:
NO! Those who are homeless are not satisfied with their status. Many have physical or emotional illnesses. Some are mothers and fathers trying to keep their children safe. Some are children .Some of them can work and do when they can find a job.
Some of them have just had a rough road and they cant seem to keep their heads above water. If you think they all are satisfied about where their lives have ended up, try talking to them. Youll see, they are just like you and me. They have feelings and they are all of Gods royalty and they deserve a place to call home.
Objection:
If our highest priority is permanent housing, we need to make sure we have enough permanent housing first.
Response:
Thats where the Housing Trust Funds come in. A Housing Trust Fund must be set up in Wichita, to end homelessness and prevent future homelessness. The Housing Trust Fund will create a dependable funding source that will support housing and homeless housing needs of extremely low-income persons ( 30% AMI and below ). The Housing Trust Fund will be designated funds that are put into the Trust Fund yearly, so it will be continual income. The Everyone Welcome, 24/7 Shelter with Supportive Services will help get the homeless off the streets and, by utilizing the supportive services, it will help them get their life on track so they can get into safe, accessible and affordable permanent housing.
Objection:
The best way to care for people like the homeless is for church people and other humanitarians to develop their own ministries and services. Thats what the churches have been doing with the overflow shelter. Thats how the Lords Diner is supported. Thats what makes UMUM and Anthony Family Shelter work so well. If we set up another governmental agency (city, county, state, federal) it will only take the ownership away from those who really care and create another bureaucracy.
Response:
There is no question that the faith-based organizations mentioned above are doing excellent work. Part of what makes their ministries successful, are the rules and programs they offer. However, there are still many who fall through the cracks and are not eligible for these faith-based programs or refuse to accept the particular faith perspectives provided. The Everyone Welcome, 24/7 Shelter concept provides services to all. It is likely that the 24/7 Shelter would refer people to some of these existing organizations as the best option for them. We must acknowledge that no one ministry can meet all the needs but each ministry is valuable and essential. We must work together.
Objection:
Do you really want to welcome everyone into the shelter? Wont that just invite trouble and danger for others?
Response:
The facility would be staffed day and night. We will have a requirement to respect other persons and property. There will also be activities and supportive services available to help each person with their specific needs which will help keep them active in living a successful life.
Objection:
What will a 24/7 Shelter provide that other agencies arent already providing?
Response:
AECH proposes that we discontinue the temporary Overflow Shelter, and create a new consolidated shelter with supportive services that welcomes homeless persons day and night without any restrictions (except a requirement to respect other persons and property).
Objection:
Ending Chronic Homelessness is a noble cause but it is simply unrealistic. Go for a program that is realistic.
Response:
It is not unrealistic. There are plans out there right now. We have to decide as a community, that 15 years is too long, to still be talking about what we are going to do. We have to get a plan put in action and get it started now before we need yet another temporary overflow shelter.
Objection:
They are just lazy and dont want to work. They made their choices. Let them live with the consequences.
Response:
Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone deserves to be forgiven and everyone deserves a second chance. Its no different for the homeless men, women and children in Wichita, Kansas every night. We can make a difference today!
Objection:
How can you substantiate the numbers and statistics you are using in your literature? I dont believe them.
Response:
The $8.00 a day cost was created in the following way: The projected budget for operating our proposed Consolidated 24/7 Emergency Shelter with supportive services is $545,000. Based on an average of 185 homeless residents per night, the cost is $8.00. Whether we go with the minimum $8.00 a day, or the maximum $16.00 a day (16x30=$480.00) the cost is reasonable and far less than if we keep them homeless.
It costs a fortune to keep someone homeless.
Among the costs of keeping people homeless are:
1. Medical costs (emergency room visits, medication, and hospital stays)
2. Jail time (often not being able to pay fines)
3. Shelters where homeless are housed (without a meaningful plan to progress)
Most of these expenses listed below could be reduced or eliminated. There are lower cost alternatives. It costs a fortune to keep someone homeless.
| Adult in Jail: $3,500 a month. (This estimated number for Kansas is $500 below the national average of $4,000.) |
| Youth in Detention Center: $7,000 a month. (An estimated number below the national average.) |
| Psychiatric Center: $10,000 a month. (Costs vary but $10,000 is not an out of line estimate.) |
Compare the above costs to AECHs Welcome Home: 24/7 option.
| Overnight shelter $8.00 a day X 30 days = $240 a month. Since there are additional supportive service costs provided by outside agencies -- lets double the cost to $16.00 ($16.00 X 30 = $480 a month). $480 a month is still well below other alternatives. And more importantly, the "Welcome Home": 24/7 option we recommend does not simply recycle homeless persons but rather provides the supportive services needed to help homeless persons move into a permanent solution. |
| Permanent housing with supportive services costs less than keeping someone homeless. A studio apartment with supportive services for the chronic homeless rents for around $375 a month in our city, with all utilities paid. |
Objection:
You live in a nice home in the suburbs. Why do you care about the homeless?
Response:
We are supposed to care for our neighbors, as we care for ourselves. That means everyone deserves to be cared for. Did you know almost everyone is 2 paychecks away from being homeless? That means in America today. It can happen to anyone at anytime. It could happen to you.
In addition, it costs a lot of money to keep the homeless on the streets. The City of Wichitas 2004-2008 Consolidated Plan reports 2,253 individuals are homeless each year in Sedgwick County. The Wichita Unified School District 259 reported 626 homeless children (from birth to age 17) that were participants in their special programs for homeless children. Who pays for their schooling??
The Good News: We assume the battle for right and justice can be won by force, by technique, by doing. It cant. Truly faithful transformation of culture comes through sacrificial love, community and being. But this fact by no means cancels out the responsibility to do, to act, to walk in the words of God. Rather, the being and the doing go together. The being is fundamental, but the doing is the natural result. Adapted from: The Community of the King, by Howard A. Snyder
March 28, 2006
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