Rescue Mission expansion worthy
Agency hopes to overcome fundraising shortfall.
The Shreveport Times
Editoral
February 14, 2006
The process of becoming homeless often is a gradual
process, but an inescapable reality is it's a condition that
also can result with little warning. Consider the tens of
thousands of Louisiana residents who, now more than five
months after the storms' devastation, still are displaced.
This certainly offers a new dimension to the problem of
homelessness here -- and indeed across the country -- and
underscores the need to support efforts to address it.
In that vein, the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission expansion
qualifies as worthwhile. Reports estimate about 5,000 people
in this community, annually, are homeless. About 40 percent
of that population, according to Rescue Mission Executive
Director Henry Martin, are women and children.
Construction on a new 180-bed facility just south of downtown
Shreveport is evidence of the agency's commitment to
providing temporary shelter and other services for those in
need. At least 100 of those beds will be dedicated to women
and women with children. The $5 million project is expected
to open in June.
While fundraising efforts have been aggressive, they still
fall short of about 50 percent, creating an urgency as the
homeless population continues to grow, Martin said. Hurricane
evacuees being forced out of FEMA-sponsored hotel rooms with
housing issues still unsettled could be among those served.
In addition to temporary housing, plans are for the shelter
to provide basic medical and dental care, as well as services
to help the residents in their transition into jobs and
permanent housing. The existing Rescue Mission building on
Texas Street will remain open and will be converted to a
long-term shelter for men.
The bottom line, Martin says: "People just need hope,
and they need help."
Some 35 area churches have been supportive with regular
donations, but more needs to be done to assist the nonprofit,
nondenominational, faith-based organization in its mission.
Martin said goals include landing major-league donations that
could lead to the naming of buildings and wings in honor of
donors. Also needed are organizations willing to
"adopt" suites, providing for families who will be
living at the shelter. In-kind donations also are welcome. As
Shreveport-Bossier City continues to grow, so, likely, will
homelessness and the need for services. The Rescue Mission's
expansion should not be overlooked as the area's reputation
for charitable giving continues to be challenged.