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Mission will deliver lunch instead

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published January 24, 2007

City leaders have reached an agreement with the Haven of Rest Rescue Mission that, among other things, could result in the homeless shelter's moving outside Pinellas Park.

The informal deal, reached Monday, ends a dispute that garnered headlines this month when Pinellas Park officials threatened to close the mission because it did not have enough parking to serve hot meals.

Under the city code, the mission was considered a "restaurant" because it served hot, sit-down meals and, as such, was required to have a certain number of parking spaces.

The mission, at 5625 Park Blvd., has never had enough parking spaces, but had a "shared parking agreement" with the St. Petersburg Times, which had a distribution center nearby.

When the Times sold the center last year, the new owner did not want to draft a similar agreement.

The mission applied for a zoning variance, which, if granted, would have allowed it to serve the hot, sit-down meals.

But it is unclear if city officials would have approved the variance.

The City Council, which has long considered the mission an eyesore and a problem in the city's high-profile redevelopment area, would have made the decision.

As part of Monday's agreement, the mission has withdrawn its variance request and agreed to stop serving hot, sit-down meals to the homeless.

Instead, it will begin delivering bag lunches around 6 a.m. to day labor businesses, where both the homeless and the working poor can be found.

The mission can continue to offer showers and restrooms to the homeless and hand out food boxes.

In return, the city will help the mission find a larger location somewhere in Pinellas County.

"It is not a move to get them out of Pinellas Park," said Tim Caddell, the city's spokesman.

"We're looking here, too. The reality is, how much property is there that's suitable?"

Pinellas Park officials also will try to find grants for the mission to continue and to expand its work, Caddell said.

The Rev. Lionel Cabral, the mission's executive director, said he is "pleased not to be in conflict with the city of Pinellas Park."

"I am pleased that the rescue mission remains open and provides services to both the homeless and poor families in Pinellas County."

Cabral conceded that the mission has long needed a larger space, but he did not comment about the possibility of leaving Pinellas Park.

"We're crammed into a very small location," he said. "We need a bigger space."

The important thing, Cabral said, is for people to understand that the Haven of Rest can continue its mission to help the homeless and working poor.

"It does seem to be working out," Cabral said.

"If we can work things out ... without a war, it's the best thing."

City officials saw the agreement as a way to declare their commitment to helping the homeless.

"Any challenge can be overcome when people work together," City Manager Mike Gustafson said.

"Pinellas Park is committed to being part of the solution when it comes to homeless issues. We are all in this together."

But Gustafson conceded that the city was also responding to complaints from the mission's neighbors.

Neighbors' complaints have decreased since the Haven of Rest stopped serving hot meals, he said.

[Last modified January 23, 2007, 22:55:20]