MEDIATOR CONTINUES WORK WITH Lincoln Park NEIGHBORS OPPOSED TO SHELTER
By Mary Corrado
Editor
Last night, over 200 members of St. Clement Catholic Church, Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, Church of Our Savior, St. Pauls United Church of Christ, Lakeview Action Coalition and United Power for Action and Justice joined together for a prayer vigil in support of the Lincoln Park Community Shelter. This service, with reflections from shelter volunteers and clergy, took place at 7 p.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church, 638 W. Deming Pl.
The congregation members held the vigil as the shelter seeks a special use permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, a permit that is needed for the Shelter to continue. Some neighbors who believe that the Shelter has caused an increase in crime and a decrease in property values pointed out in June that the Shelter currently is in violation of zoning regulations; that is why the Shelter is seeking a special use permit. Ald. Vi Daley (43rd) has been under pressure from these neighbors to oppose the permit.
Ald. Daley called in a mediator who has had some discussions with those neighbors opposed to the permit. According to Charles Eastwood, a spokesman for Ald. Daley, "They've made some progress but they haven't come to a resolution yet." The permit is scheduled to be addressed by the Zoning Board on Friday, but Ald. Daley has asked for it to be continued. "She is optimistic that an agreement can be reached that will accommodate the mission of the shelter and address the concerns of the neighbors about the homeless," said Eastwood.
"My church has a 20-year history supporting the shelter and we committed to its continued operation in our neighborhood," said Allen Wesolowski from St. Clement, one of the organizers of the vigil. "I feel it is fundamental to my faith tradition to work for the success of the shelter. Like all communities in Chicago, Lincoln Park has a moral responsibility to serve the needy among us."
The Lincoln Park Community Shelter was founded in 1984 by members of St. Clement Catholic Church, Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, Church of Our Savior, and St. Pauls United Church of Christ. Those congregations provide the majority of the volunteers that work with the shelter.
Through the work of the shelter, over 300 guests annually are provided overnight shelter, another 300 persons are served through its outreach program, and over 30,000 meals are served annually. Fifty-nine percent of guests who needed employment have found it, and 49 percent of guests have made the transition into permanent housing. The Shelter holds a seat on the governing board of Mayor Daley's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. The Shelter receives no government funding, relying on donations
and volunteers.
"My husband and I both volunteer at the Shelter," commented Barb Javorcic, a member of St. Pauls. "We've stayed there overnight once a month for over 10 years. It's so fulfilling to see the guests changing their lives in positive ways, and I'm proud to be a part of that. I know my efforts at the Shelter help people who are committed to improving their situation because they must participate in programs designed to help end their homelessness." |
