Judging from the articles and letters to the editor in this week’s local newspapers, as well as the comments on this site, the PADS shelter set to open in October at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church has become a hot topic in Park Ridge. But this is an issue that deserves more light, not more heat; and for starters that light should shine squarely on the people who tried to fly this shelter into the basement of St. Mary’s under the radar.
Let’s start with the Park Ridge Ministerial Association, which suggests that its member churches actively shared information with and solicited opinions from their constituent congregations. Since St. Mary’s gave “St. Mary’s Carousel of Learning” the boot last summer after more than 20 years on those premises, apparently to pave the way for the PADS shelter, how many of those churches devoted even one Sunday sermon to engaging their congregations in a meaningful discussion of homelessness, its effects on our community, and the “need” for a PADS shelter in Park Ridge?
And if, as is now being reported, the City and several of its officials (including the mayor and the chief of police) were apprised of this PADS initiative months, if not years, ago, why wasn’t it placed on the agenda by the City Council for public discussion – such as when, for example, the Carousel whirled its way over to Park Ridge Presbyterian and the Council chamber was filled with neighbors raising their concerns about the effects of that move? We also question why weren’t several alternative shelter sites publicly identified and publicly debated before St. Mary’s was chosen?
Of course, the Park Ridge Ministerial Association is not a governmental body, so it’s operations are not governed by laws like the Illinois Open Meetings Act (“IOMA”) that are designed to demand transparency and accountability from our public officials. But purely on the basis of ethics and morals – the very things invoked by the PADS shelter proponents/apologists against anyone who dares question their plans – don’t these churches, the clergy and boards that operate them, and our public officials all owe their members and the community as a whole far more transparency and accountability than they’ve shown so far?
Separation of church and state is a fundamental principal of this country. But both of those institutions depend for their continuing vitality and credibility on fostering the more exemplary attitudes and behavior over the lesser – as in, for example, valuing the asking for permission before taking action above the asking for forgiveness after the deed is already done.
As we suggested in Wednesday’s article, we need a lot fewer dissembling politicians and a lot more straight-talking, public-spirited leaders. And we need them every bit as much in our religious and social organizations as in our governmental ones.
15 comments so far
In an attempt to shed light on the shelter, I’ve looked into PADS policies and found that the St. Mary’s PADS won’t be answering the knocks that concern the Ministerial Association. Nope, these knocks will continue, while pre-approved, background checked, health screened PADS participants are instructed to move from town to town for a meal and a bed. The knocks will continue – only homeless that plan ahead and join will get in. So Park Ridge will have knocks and a PADS shelter too.
Pads Journey to Hope does not process a complete criminal background check on the people using the facility. We could have potential pedophiles, sex offenders and other criminals “INVITED” to Park Ridge to stay in the shelter. We also know from the Columbia University Study that over 90% of the people in Homeless Shelters are dependent on Drugs and Alcohol and/or have mental health issues.
Where do they go when they get here early? Where do they go when they leave? Will there be any of them potentially stashing their alcohol or drugs by the shelter before they go in?
St. Mary’s is directly on the path of our school chidren that walk to Lincoln Middle School and the Community Center. They are putting these people directly in the path of our children!
The City of Park Ridge better think hard before allowing this to happen. Just one child being affected physically or emotionally by a “Guest” at the homeless shelter is a crime that the City can prevent by saying NO!
The pedestrian scale of Park Ridge is somewhat unique, we can walk anywhere, and it adds to our quality of life. There are so many kids walking to school, that some time ago, District 64 designated safe walking routes. They printed up maps, painted yellow feet on the sidewalks, and instructed kids to stick to the routes. Crescent St. is a main route to Lincoln Middle School, and as Jean mentions, it goes past the PADS door. What time does band and other early programs start? Looks like we have an overlap!
To shed further light on Pads Journey to Hope as I understand it, they don’t fingerprint to be assured of their guests identity. They only research a name. They don’t provide any physicals, or checks for tuberculosis or Hepatitis. As far as I understand, they only provide them with a card that allows them access to the homeless shelters.
They do a verbal interview and give them a card with their new PADS identity!
If the people of Park Ridge want to make a commitment to actually helping any of these homeless people, I’m not sure just providing a place to flop for a night gets it done. But if making somebody’s conscience feel better is the goal, then it may be enough.
The above comment about “actually helping any of these homeless people” makes a lot of sense. I think there is another agenda, and that is INCREASING the number of homeless in Park Ridge. Check out this quote from the minutes of the Fair Housing Commission meeting of Nov 28, 2007: “A representative was present from PADS and explained that some area churches do provide shelter for homeless individuals but are exploring the possibility of being affiliated with PADS in order to increase and improve their outreach to the homeless.” INCREASE!
Last night I was visited by an angel of the Lord and he revealed to me a vision of Jesus leading the Ministerial Association followed by their droves of homeless into the Park Ridge Country Club. Then the angel said unto me, “Jesus does not want His homeless in the basement of a church. Go forth and spread His message.”
I guess the ministers and priests should start talking to the country club. It would only be one night a week, nobody plays golf during the winter, and they have plenty of space on the second floor. They have showers and a commercial kitchen to satisfy our health department. Why would they say no? Jesus works in strange ways! To really provide a top notch experience maybe Howard could throw in some Hooter’s girls just for fun.
I agree with Palmer,
PADS Journey to Hope registers each homeless individual with a Post Office Box. Will the post office box be in Park Ridge and will that then make them Park Ridge residents?
That would fulfill the dreams of Fair Housing to now have the “Need” for affordable housing.
Homelessness is a problem that is centuries old.
With that in mind, wouldn’t that lead us down the path to the simple idea that it is unsolvable
If the good Lord and the great minds of our past could not find a solution, is putting in one more shelter really the answer?
History teaches us many things. How to learn from our mistakes, along with what works and what doesn’t.
Is it possible the the hands of greed hide behind the heart of good faith, and that the devil indeed has many faces.
I don’t recall hearing one thing about this PADS shelter at my church, and my neighbor (who attends St. Paul) says the same thing about his church. So this sounds more and more like some elitist idea by folks who think they’re holier than thou and/or who have some additional (and hidden?) agenda.
St. Mary’s was chosen because of it’s proximity to the Metra station from where many of the shelter occupants will arrive with the Metra pass that is provided to them. After observing the program in a neighboring city, one of many major issues is that the people using the shelter do loiter in the area both before and after the shelter is open!
Mayor Frimark and Ald. Ryan would be well advised to go and observe this program prior to championing it for their own community.
Many of the homeless people will indeed be harmless, however, we cannot be naïve enough to believe that all will refrain from using drugs, disposing of needles, etc. in the vicinity of the shelter. I know this because I have owned a place next to a shelter in the past.
Obviously, the intent was to introduce the shelter quietly without the knowledge of the community and without having a public discussion. This covert operation, by one of our community churches AND our politicians should not be allowed under the radar by the community. The Mayor and other elected officials should be left in no doubt about that. I doubt if St. Mary’s would be silly enough to make such a significant investment in the shelter without having some indication from City authorities that this would not be in vain. Full disclosure should be demanded of our public officials.
To the residents of Park I can only recommend that they go and observe one of these sites in operation before making a decision. The PADS calendar and can be found at the following website:
http://padstohope.org/padssites.html
Additionally, residents should review the most recent audit information, which can be found at:
http://padstohope.org/financialdocuments.html
What the point of sending them out here when there’s probably enough places in the city?
We already have enough problems as it is.
A shelter should not be allowed to be operated so close to downtown and to a residential area. The “Fair Housing Act” will be invoked, however, the church should abide by the wishes of the community at large. Obviously, the secrecy surrounding the shelter is a clear indication that the church is well aware that the community at large would not want such a shelter at this location. There is certainly a mist that makes it very difficult to distinguish our politicians from our clergy these days.
The letter from St Mary’s came to neighbors not to the
members of the church and it sounded like a done deal. To be against such a proposition seems un-Christian so it is clear that the Ministerial Association of Park Ridge, PADS, and St Mary’s thought that this could just happen. I am not against helping the homeless but I am against something being done in this way. We are not told if these guests are men or women? are children involved as guests? Do the same people come back or are they different each week? do they just line up somewhere first come first served? as one source said. How many churches are needed to complete the dream of PAD? Are these homeless people from Park Ridge or the western suburbs or are some from chicago?
These are all very good questions, many of which have not been satisfactorily answered by either the Park Ridge Ministerial Association members or by the PADS people themselves. This Monday night (April 28), however, the Park Ridge Ministerial Association plans a PADS Community Information Night at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 6:30 p.m. The public allegedly is welcome.
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