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Homeless find shelter

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Rotating homeless shelter

As a shelter for single, homeless men opens its doors in Rock County churches, neighbors are concerned. But they shouldn’t be worried, according to the organizers of similar programs in Beloit and Walworth County.

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JANESVILLE — “It’s marvelous that you should care for me,” the old man said.

He was sitting in his wheelchair in the St. John Vianney Catholic Church basement dressed in several bulky layers, including a stained jacket. His oxygen tank was nearby.

He chatted with volunteers who offered a dinner of lasagna and brownies with chocolate chips.

His sentences invariably included a line from a song or movie.

The man—Richard J.—introduced his son—Richard R.—and called him his “beast of burden.” Richard R. hovered nearby, bundled in a hat and coat.

It was after 7 p.m. Wednesday, and the pair were guests in St. John’s makeshift shelter for homeless single men.

Comfy-looking inflatable mattresses with clean sheets and blankets awaited them behind screens. The men could shower that night or in the morning.

Two younger men played cards behind the divider.

Last week was the first week in a citywide effort by churches to provide shelter for single homeless men, a population not served beyond occasional motel vouchers from charitable organizations. The 12-hour shelter will rotate to other churches in coming weeks.

“If we can house 20 guys a night, that’s 20 vouchers they don’t have to hand out,” said Paul Benish, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. He is treasurer of the GIFTS task force that organized the effort.

The St. John Vianney shelter opened Christmas Eve at 7 p.m.

The group expected just a few guests initially. People who work with the homeless estimate there are about 30 in the community.

The first three nights, St. John Vianney hosted seven men. Eight stayed Thursday night, and St. John coordinator Matt Prestil was expecting 10 on Friday.

The ages ranged from 20s to 70s.

“Little by little, word’s getting out,” Prestil said.

The men Wednesday said they saw news about the shelter in The Janesville Gazette. Social agencies and the police also spread the word.

One gentleman had attended the St. John Vianney midnight Mass Christmas Eve and afterward approached the priest, Benish said. “He came up to Father Randy and said, ‘I don’t have a place to go.’”

He hadn’t known about the shelter.

“It was like God just dropped him right here,” Benish said.

Richard J. and Richard R.—organizers requested that only first names be published and no pictures of the men’s faces be taken—said they had been living in their car after losing their apartment more than a year ago. They had been spending some nights at the Sparrow’s Next shelter in Beloit but liked this shelter better.

It is warmer. And, “The people here are kind and helpful,” Richard R. said.

Lonnie, 39, from Beloit, lost his job and has been staying with friends. He said the shelter here has been “excellent. It’s how we’re treated,” he said. “I feel more comfortable here than around some of my family members. They just go out of their way to make you feel secure and comfortable.”

Lonnie said he spends his days at the Hedberg Public Library, reading or looking for work.

J.R., 22, was stranded in Janesville from Arkansas. He was spending nights in a horse trailer near the library and heard about the shelter at the House of Mercy, which serves women and families. He showed up at the shelter Christmas Eve. By Thursday, an anonymous St. John parishioner had donated plane fare for him to get home.

“Christians want to help you,” one volunteer told him. “Remember that when you get back to Arkansas.”

Because of this program, there is one less homeless person in Janesville, Benish said.

So far, there haven’t been any problems, Benish said. The men have been well-behaved and appreciative.

Experts told Benish that a good percentage of homeless people have mental health issues, but most of the time the conditions don’t result in negative behavior.

Volunteers screen the men, calling police for background checks and turning away registered sex offenders and men with open warrants.

By Wednesday, volunteers had turned away two men, one of whom police picked up for an outstanding warrant. The other was known and had worn out his welcome with charitable organizations.

Downstairs, tables were filled with donated food, clothes, hand warmers and personal care items. Bus tokens to get to the shelter were available.

The first night, one man needed a shower and didn’t have clean clothes. He picked an outfit from donated items. A volunteer took home his clothes and washed and returned them along with an extra bag to keep them in.

At the shelter, men hang out, talk and play cards. Lights are out at 10.

The men must leave by 7:30 a.m. the next day after getting breakfast and a sack lunch. They are welcome to leave their things so they don’t have to carry them during the day. The library and The Janesville Mall are popular places for daytime refuge.

The outpouring of volunteerism and enthusiasm for the shelter has been tremendous, Benish said. More than 200 St. John Vianney parishioners volunteered the first week.

“There just shouldn’t be people without shelter and food in Janesville,” said Marie Wallace, who volunteered Wednesday with her daughter and husband.

“We wanted to do something to help.”

Prestil said the men who came the first nights left with a different attitude. They were smiling and clean, and their self-worth and sense of belonging seemed to have improved.

“They weren’t looked down on or judged.

“The looks on their faces (show) this is a good thing we’re doing,” Prestil said.

Said Benish: “What I see is the volunteers get more out of this than the guests do.”

Today, volunteers will haul the mattresses and bedding to Roxbury Road Church of Christ, which will host the shelter this week. Grace Community International is scheduled for the next.

The men at the shelter said they would find their way there.

To donate or volunteer at the homeless shelter, call Paul Benish at (608) 751-7848. Organizers want to keep the shelter open through winter.