The man sitting on the ground outside the South Ferry terminal
carried a sign that read. "Homeless. I need money for beer.
Please help." Other street signs, of course, are more
serious and tragic, involving veterans and AIDS victims, but as
the weather warms, concerns for the homeless become less urgent.
As a rule of thumb, I give only to the street indigents who are
missing limbs or exhibit verifiable disabilities. Enabling
substance abusers by providing them with funds seems unwise. Now
I've discovered another recipient for donations besides my church
because it also works toward genuine assistance for the homeless
- the New York City Rescue Mission (www.nycrescue.org).
The name is slightly misleading because the first thing one
notices on the door of its entrance on 90 Lafayette St. is a sign
that reads, "Jesus Saves." It is, in fact, a Christian
mission - not a city agency. Jerry and Maria McAuley founded
America's first rescue mission in 1872, and it was first called
the McAuley mission. The mission itself reminded me of an
old-time hotel, with its small reception desk and wooden mail
slots in the background. While I waited for my appointment with
the director, Joe Little, I heard a man complaining to his
counselor jokingly about restrictions on his departure and he
said, "This is like when I was in prison."
Mr. McAuley, a repentant thief, was transformed by reading the
Bible while jailed at Sing Sing in the 1860s. After his release
he married Maria, who shared a similar life experience, and they
began a shelter for poor New Yorkers. The McAuleys were the first
to open the doors of a religious institution every night of the
year to the outcasts of society, no doubt, because they
empathized with their societal disconnect.
This mission differs from the city shelters for homeless men by
offering practical resources to help them escape their anguish.
It addresses their current needs by offering emergency lodging
and meals. Once residents apply for the residency recovery
program, they receive preparation for self-sufficiency, GED
preparation, job training, computer basics, and after-care
counseling. By offering long-term solutions to poverty and
homelessness, the program gives people hope and a chance at a
better future. As it is also a Christian mission, Bible study
classes and spiritual guidance are offered. A chapel is on the
premises.
When I inquired about services for homeless women, Mr. Little
explained that while the mission doesn't have the accommodations
for overnight stays for women, it does offer them meals and
clothing. Daily lunch is also provided for all visitors to the
nearby Family Court, which are, in the main, women and children.
A special Mother's Day banquet is held every year for homeless
mothers and children from other shelters, who will be feted with
a red carpet reception. Live music, VIPs, and gift bags will be
provided at this year's fifth annual affair on May 12 between
11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The plight of the homeless is tragic, but city officials need to
be aware that they are contributing to the problem. A staff
member at the mission told me he is concerned for those who are
ready to leave the mission yet have no place to go. There is no
longer any housing anywhere in the city that is affordable for
those with low incomes. My old neighborhood in East Harlem now
rents apartments for $1,500 and up. Someone earning minimum wage
simply cannot afford that. There used to be single room occupancy
buildings throughout the city, but these disappeared in the
1970s, when the city offered developers tax breaks to build
expensive condominiums. The SROs were torn down, and suddenly the
city had a homeless epidemic. Today New York neighborhoods that
are housing the working poor are rapidly being replaced by
high-priced developments in all five boroughs.
The film "The Pursuit of Happyness" is a true story of
Chris Gardner's temporary bout with homelessness while training
for a stockbroker position in San Francisco. He took shelter in a
Christian mission with his small son and eventually his
determination to succeed netted him a high-paying job and future
affluence. Clearly Gardner was not the stereotypical homeless
soul, but he does represent a growing segment of the New York
City population that is finding it no longer has options for
independent living.
If the city is not going to provide housing that is affordable
for the lower middle class, then the New York City Rescue Mission
may soon be providing shelter for someone you know.