Supporting the Mission of Hospitality and Those Who Depend on the Center

Here in S.E. Wisconsin, particularly Racine, we have seen the amount of people who are in poverty rise over the last several years.  The economy here was bad enough before the recession officially hit, and since then, it's been a constant battle to recover.  And while the unemployment rate has reduced, those who are underemployed or underpaid has increased in number, therefore, creating a larger group who are either homeless, food insecure, or at risk of homelessness.

The Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization (H.A.L.O.) Inc has been here for 10 years, and has provided many services for those who are homeless, including to offer child care to those who needed to look for work and start their new jobs.  We are glad that there is a shelter like this here, since we do really need to take care of those who are less fortunate, and really need a hand up.  Here is a link that shows what, and how much help HALO Inc. does - http://www.haloinc.org/about/halo-facts

Even with this emergency shelter with their 120 beds to accommodate men on one side, and women & children on the other, this isn't a cure all for the issues that plague our area.  At HALO, you have to follow strict rules.  Some of those rules include the fact that you may have to leave by 9am so that the staff and administrators can do room checks and cleaning these rooms.  They serve breakfast and dinner.  If you want to eat your dinner, you need to be there BY 5pm.  Curfew is 9pm, and even if you are only 5 minutes late, this can be enough to lose your spot in the shelter.  There is no drinking allowed.  No drinking means that not only are you not allowed to have alcoholic beverages in the shelter, you are not to have any alcoholic beverages while you are out during the day time hours, either.  If you come in smelling like alcohol, you are not permitted to stay there.  No street drugs allowed, period.  There are other strict rules like having lights out by 11pm, and you're only allowed a certain amount of your personal belongings to bring into the shelter.

While this may seem harsh, there are those who are trying to be sober need the best type of support, and that includes not having triggers of others who may not have the problem.  There are also some who are mentally ill, whose behaviors may not be allowed, even if it's their mental illness rather than a purposeful behavior. 

So, here comes the Hospitality Center, which started at St. Luke's Presbyterian Church, and was licensed to give snacks, 3 times a week.  But, during the winter months, had expanded to so much more than that, because on these weary cold nights, it's easy to freeze to death, and the premise is that no one should have to die, because they are still human beings.  Well, some businesses are complaining, in part that yes, there are those who are alcoholic.  Others have battles with mental illness.  I get it.  These people are not always the easiest to deal with.  Businesses have things to do.  Let's face it, though.  Poor people with other issues exist, and they aren't going to go away, just because they are a pain to deal with.  It's already bad enough, that mental health issues don't get covered by insurance the way physical health does.  They need the stability somewhere, and the Hospitality Center helps.  In a huge way.  Yet, the center is at risk of being shut down.  Probably due to issues such as the meal site for a certain night was a place where if they went there, they wouldn't be able to catch the bus back to the Hospitality Center to stay overnight in the winter.  So, they probably went to a nearby eatery in the downtown area, ordered food, and couldn't pay for it, because otherwise, they would have to choose between eating the one meal or having night time shelter, and because it's one of these survival issues, they wanted to be able to eat a hot meal and then go get some rest. 

Mind you, I am not condoning the behavior to order food that you can't afford to pay for.  On the other hand, when you're hungry, what would you do in the same situation?  The rest of us are lucky to have a place to call home, and to be able to find something in order to eat so we're not going to bed on an empty stomach.  So, I am imploring people to write their aldermen, go to the meeting, contact the Mayor, do what you can, to help keep this place open.

Here is more information on that.

HELP THE HOSPITALITY CENTER BE ABLE TO CONTINUE FEEDING THE HUNGRY IN RACINE

The Hospitality Center has met with city officials following complaints by 2-3 nearby business owners. An application to amend our Conditional Use Permit was submitted. Our original permit allowed snacks to be served three days each week. Since that time, because of a growing need, we have become Racine’s largest meal program, serving over 1,000 meals each week. We currently serve noon meals four days each week, supper each Monday, and on the last Thursday of each month. In a city with the state’s largest unemployment rate, we have a lot of hungry people. We have met a need of feeding the hungry, responding to what we believe by God we are called to do.

The word on the street is that the Plan Commission will not approve our amended Conditional Use Permit. We will then be forced to significantly curtail our services, or eliminate them altogether.

Help the hungry! Speak and/or stand in support of the Hospitality Center (RACINE’S LARGEST MEAL PROGRAM) at City Hall on July 29, 2015 at 4:15pm. Our Conditional Use Permit must be approved by the city for us to continue feeding our hungry brothers and sisters.

There are many other meal programs in Racine! As far as we know, we are the only site required to have a Conditional Use Permit to serve the hungry! Why is this?

Additionally, we urge you to contact directly members of Racine’s Plan Commission to lend us your support regarding this very important issue.

Mayor John Dickert   http://www.cityofracine.org/Mayor/

Melvin Hargrove     zoeministires@sbcglobal.net

Molly Hall     mollyjjhall@sbcglobal.net

Tony Veranth     tonyracine1@gmail.com

Tom Durkin     durkin@beckerfrench.com

Dennis Wiser     dennis.wiser@cityofracine.org

Vincent Esqueda   esqueda65@yahoo.com


THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

Friends of the Hospitality Center

Action to help Hospitality Center with Permit

To speak at the City Planning Commision meeting, Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 4:15, you need to come at 3:45 to sign-up.

Carol Zukewich, Office Manager
Racine Interfaith Coalition
2302A DeKoven Avenue
Racine, WI 53403
262-635-9532

Help Deacon Kevin Stewart Amend The Hospitality Center's Permit which will allow them to continue operating as they currently are to help the Poor.

Call the City of Racine Planning Commission and attend the meeting to speak in support of the
Hospitality Center, Wednesday, July 29 at 4:15 p.m. at City Hall, Room 205 -
Call-Tell the City of Racine Planning Commission below you support the Permit for the Hospitality
Center. Feed the hungry.....

Dennis Wiser
262-554-6918
Dennis.Wiser@cityofracine.org
2517 Pinehurst Ave

Racine, WI 53403

Mayor John Dickert
262-636-9111

mayor@cityofracine.org

 

Melvin Hargrove
262-681-1691
zoeministries@sbcglobal.net
4144 Lasalle Street

Racine, WI 53402

Molly Hall

262-635-0520
mollyjjhall@sbcglobal.net
115 Illinois Street

Racine, WI 53405

Tom Durkin
262-633-7530

durkin@beckerfrench.com

 

Tony Veranth
262-6370115 tonyracine1@gmail.com
2517 Pinehurst Ave

Racine, WI 53403

Vincent Esqueda
262-344-1965
esqueda65@yahoo.com
1105 N. Memorial Drive

Racine, WI 53403

If you have any questions, please call Greg Petro - 262-989-6352   Deacon Bob Bagley - 262-221-5901
Pr. Michael Mueller - 262-930-2072



Carol Zukewich, Office Manager
Racine Interfaith Coalitiion
2302A DeKoven Avenue
Racine, WI 53403
262-635-9532