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Church offers space for 60 homeless to camp

But some dislike the idea of another tent city.

By DEMORRIS A. LEE
Published March 12, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Lakewood United Church of Christ members want to help St. Petersburg with its homeless housing crisis.

The church's congregation decided Sunday to provide space for up to 30 tents and 60 people on the west side of its property.

John Wolfe, St. Petersburg's attorney, said Lakewood would likely have to get a temporary use permit for the tent city. He said getting the permit is an administrative process that could be completed in a matter of days without public hearings or a City Council vote. The permit can be renewed, he said.

Lakewood's 75-member congregation decided Sunday that as a matter of faith it would move forward with a temporary encampment with four portable toilets and four showers.

Church members expect to begin mailing a three-page information packet today to residents of Lakewood Estates, which is adjacent to the church.

The packet, addressed to "Lakewood Neighbors," includes a letter explaining the church's decision "to assist the city in meeting the need for additional space for residents of tent city" while permanent housing is being sought.

There are also details on how the effort will work and copies of a contract dictating behavior standards that potential tenters would have to sign before being allowed on church property.

Reactions to the plan were mixed.

St. Petersburg City Council member Jamie Bennett said the city has had its fill of tent cities. He suggested the church find another way to help.

"The city, we are about worn out with the tent city idea," Bennett said. "I'm not against churches helping but no one, not even the advocates, are advocating tent cities as the answer."

He said what the city needs is for someone to help get insurance for the city's current tent city.

"Is there someone in the congregation who is an insurance agent?" Bennett asked. "That would help us so we can start moving people."

Besides, he said, the city needs to "step up and start providing permanent housing."

"Time to close the tent cities," Bennett said. "We just can't allow them to proliferate, but that also puts the burden on the city and county for more permanent solutions."

Judy Ellis, president of the Lakewood Estates Civic Association, said Sunday that because she doesn't know enough about the project, it would be premature for her to comment. Ellis said she couldn't predict the community's reaction.

"I think it's admirable what the church is doing but how the residents are going to respond, we don't know," Ellis said. "Pastor Kim Wells is a very smart lady and I'm sure it's been given careful consideration. We just have to work together to see how this works."

There are 1,700 single-family homes and condominiums in Lakewood Estates, Ellis said.

In January, St. Petersburg gained national notoriety after city police cut up tents that some of the area's homeless were living in. Moving quickly, city officials raised more than $1-million for the homeless, and another tent city location was identified at the grounds of the St. Vincent de Paul Society along Fourth Avenue N.

In addition, a shelter will be built in Largo on the former PSTA headquarters site.

"I want to commend Lakewood United for wanting to jump in and help and find a solution, but I want them to come to some of the meetings and say, 'How can we best help?' and possibly a tent city might not be the answer," Bennett said.

But for church members, reaching out to the poor is a duty of faith.

"Part of our mission statement is to offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people, and we see it as a fulfillment of that and the ministry and teachings of Jesus," said the Rev. Wells, Lakewood's pastor.

The tents, which will be out of the public view, at Lakewood will be accommodated for 30 days with the option to renew for another 30 days.

The campers will be allowed to use the restrooms in the church's breezeway along with portable toilets and showers that will be brought to the church. The area will have temporary fencing and will be secured with police and/or private security.

"We intend to do all that we can to ensure that this endeavor proceeds in a way that protects the safety and security of all," Wells wrote. "We truly desire to be good neighbors to all the people of the city we call home."

Demorris A. Lee can be reached at 445-4174 or dalee@stpimes.com.

[Last modified March 12, 2007, 00:15:24]