Blue Notes from a Red Zone

Shoot Me Now

I'm sure everyone who keeps up with news sources and columnists has one or two (at least) people who represent the antithesis of everything they believe. For instance, the day I agree with Ann Coulter on any point, up to and including whether or not it is raining at any particular moment, I will know it's time to realize I have Alzheimer's and to pack it in. Whereas my revulsion toward John Stoessel is not quite as pronounced (probably because I know less about him), still, I would have placed his philosophy is the same basic category as that of Ms. Coulter.

However, last week Mr. Stoessel wrote a column expressing indignation that a county department of health was demanding that a church soup kitchen for the homeless install restaurant-grade facilities or shut down. The column left out a lot of details: whether or not there were other facilities for feeding the homeless; whether the kitchen staff exercised basic common sense; what had prompted the department to initiate an inspection. Still, Mr. Stoessel reported that there had been no known incidences of infection or disease due to improper food handling, and that some of the homeless said it was either eat there or out of a trash can. As difficult as it was to overcome my distaste for Mr. Stoessel, I had to agree with that the local department was guilty of over-reaching, and that the decision of the health department to rescind its decision was for the best.

Ironically, yesterday our local health department called me about the cold weather programs run by our churches for the homeless. Someone had tipped them off that churches were housing and feeding the homeless when the temperatures dropped to 40 degrees or below, and possibly in less than 4-star conditions. I had a copy of the statute governing the use of churches for compassionate causes, and said that there was some room for disagreement as to whether or not the health department held jurisdiction in these matters. I invited the health department representatives to attend a special meeting of the faith-based service providers. This morning I called and said we would host the meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday. The health department representatives appreciated our quick action, and said they would gladly attend.

Within half-an-hour of my discussion, the health department had sent out inspectors to all seven churches that host the cold night program. All seven churches were told they must cease and desist immediately. There were not enough bathrooms to accommodate the number of homeless spending the night; there were no posted rules as to hand washing; the thread count in some of the blankets was insufficiently high. The churches were told to stop serving meals and housing the homeless, or face prohibitive fines.

Whereas I may have not known if there were numerous facilities in the area highlighted by Mr. Stoessel, I know exactly how many facilities there are for homeless in my area. Shelter is available in exactly seven locations: the seven churches that alternate providing shelter, each taking one day a week. I know how many facilities serve meals: the seven churches on cold nights, and three of the same churches who provide once-a-week meals regardless of weather.

I also know the conditions in which people are housed and fed. There is inadequate space and insufficient bathrooms for the number of people sheltered. However, there is heat, running water, showers, bathrooms that are available after a short wait, blankets and laundry facilities. These things are notable for their absence on the streets, where people must go to the bathroom in the gutters, sleep in the wind and rain, and huddle under old newspapers.

It is true the kitchens have double sinks and hand washing sinks, but not sterilization sinks. They have refrigerators with compartments for meat, cheese, and vegetables, but not separate refrigerators for different food types. However, the people who run these kitchens generally come from restaurant and military kitchen backgrounds, and they maintain clean kitchens regularly scrubbed with disinfectants, wash hands frequently, and serve well-prepared, nourishing meals. The dumpsters behind the fast food places don't offer quite the variety nor the hygeinic standards.

While I was expostulating with the woman who was smugly telling me her results, I suggested that it wasn't as though the homeless had a choice between sleeping on the floor of a church or in a million dollar condo on the beach. If they didn't sleep in the church they slept in the cold, and if they didn't eat at the soup kitchen they ate from the dumpsters. If the interest was to protect the homeless public from infection, the odds were completely in the favor of those who could eat fresh meat and vegetables with clean hands.

The response: there are a number of excellent catering firms.

I asked if any of these catering firms were willing to receive an order at noon, which is when the churches make their final call as to whether or not they will open;
have a meal ready by 6:00 p.m.; and be prepared to feed any number of persons from 60-130, because you don't know until they get there how many there will be. Unsurprisingly, I didn't get an answer. Marie Antoinette didn't have a comeback line either (though there are those that say she never made those comments about cake).

I have a very hard time not seeing this as a political move. Conveniently, there was a meeting of the county commission tonight, and I whiled away three of my precious hours waiting until public comment was invited. By the time my turn came around, I did not lack for things to say.

Just like Jerry Melvin's talk show backfired at least in part (we have now received $3000 from individuals upset with his comments), it is quite possible the health department raid will generate support for a less make-shift solution to homeless issues. I'm furious, but not defeated. My church friends are equally motivated. By the time I left for the Commission meeting, my colleagues had fired off letters, e-mails and phone calls to state representatives, senators, county and city government officials, and to the head of the Department of Health. We'll see what we see.

I'll try to post my next blog on something far removed from homelessness - maybe even a comment or two on the unbelievable gall Bush had when telling Congress that unless they agreed to his agenda their children would face enormous deficits and a cut in benefits. Such words are failing me at the moment, however. I'll have to quit gasping like a landed fish before I can address that one.

Let me know if other communities have faced these problems, and how they were resolved. I love hearing from you, and have learned much.

posted by Lenore Wilson @ 11:06 PM