EVERETT — A Catholic church, a homeless outreach nonprofit and the city are together refining an idea to possibly create a day center to aid homeless people in the parish hall of Our Lady of Hope Church, 2619 Cedar St.
It's not a foregone conclusion a center will open, Our Lady's priest, the Rev. Joseph Altenhofen, told a crowd of about 30 Riverside neighbors at a June 8 meeting. But it would "help our brothers and sisters in need as part of our mission," he said. The center proposal has developed far enough that organizers are starting to seek neighbors' opinions.
A second meeting will be June 29 in the parish hall.
Here's the idea so far:
The center would be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Two city social workers will be inside, plus other site staff including two security guards.
It wouldn't house anyone overnight.
There would be spaces for people to take showers, and laundry machines for people to clean their clothes. It would have a P.O. Box for people without permanent addresses to receive mail.
MercyWatch, a homeless assistance nonprofit, would handle operations and hire professional staff using grant funding it received. It’s a volunteer group that visits homeless people around Everett to give basic medical care and mental health assistance.
Neighbors wanted to know: Where would homeless individuals go after 4 o'clock when the center ends its day?
Handling the center’s visitors, and fears opening the center would attract loitering, were a frequent and common concern. The church building is in a residential neighborhood.
Neighbors said there is car prowling and drug dealing.
"It's a safety issue" with children nearby, a woman said.
City of Everett homeless response coordinator Ben Breeden called these valid concerns, and said the center would have a management plan and expectations.
MercyWatch director Deacon Dennis Kelly (standing), city homeless response coordinator Ben Breeden and The Rev. Joseph Altenhofer (rightmost at table, in traditional black) were among many representatives who addressed questions from neighbors at the June 8 meeting at multiple tables set up to discuss specific topics.
The city may establish a "no-sit, no-lie" buffer zone against camping or loitering in a two-block radius from the center, representatives said.
"Our goal is to contain our community here," MercyWatch's director, Deacon Dennis Kelly, told the crowd.
At least one neighbor said he wants a hot line set up to directly report issues with homeless individuals. "Police response is nil," he said.
Our Lady hosts a weekly meal on Mondays that has about 75 visitors. Kelly said he thinks the day center would see a similar number of people.
This day center would be new ground for Everett. There is a day center for homeless women at 3705 Broadway, but none serve Everett's whole homeless population.
One suggestion from a neighbor was to screen day center visitors to only people who agree to accept help with getting out of homelessness. The Everett Recovery Cafe, a day center focused on people in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, uses a similar model that requires taking help.
Altenhofen said the church has discussed adding homeless services for two years now, and decided on a day center for its approach.
Frank Fargo hopes the day center comes together. He has a mission to offer showers to the homeless community using a mobile trailer, and would offer showers twice a week at the day center if it opens, which would add even more showering capacity.
When First Presbyterian on Rockefeller ceased its homeless meal service in December after almost 20 years, out went a spot for his shower program with it. Most recently, he's restarted service at Trinity Lutheran on Lombard Avenue by Clark Park.
Business owner Tom Hoban said in a phone interview he supports the day center. The church, the nonprofit and the city working together is a good example of a public-private partnership, he said.
"For too long we have seen (homelessness) as a crisis government has to solve, and it can't," Hoban said. He said he likes how Kelly operates MercyWatch with a model that uses dignity and grace for helping people in crisis.
A second meeting about the day center concept is scheduled for Thursday, June 29 at 7 p.m. at Hensen Hall, 2619 Cedar St. You must pre-register online at www.ladyofhopechurch.org/cedar-st-outreach to come.
The church site on Cedar Street was long known as Our Lady of Perpetual Help, which held the annual Everett Sausage Festival. Our Lady of Hope Parish was formed by merging the two parishes in North Everett: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and Immaculate Conception on Hoyt Avenue.
Worship services will continue at both churches, Altenhofen said.
