Post by Modesto Anarcho on Dec 2, 2008 19:48:16 GMT -5
Homeless vets shelter to shut, and some residents angry
About 10 veterans live in the shelter at 664 Paradise Road in Modesto. Hood said he has found apartments for three of them, and County Veterans Services director Carolyn Hebenstreich said there are other Veterans Affairs and homeless shelters available for the others.
Hood, 65, said finances, his age and health were factors in the decision to close the shelter. He estimated that he is losing $2,000 a month on the operation and has debts of between $15,000 and $20,000 related to the shelter.
The Modesto Fire Department has cited the shelter's two buildings for problems with the sprinkler and alarm systems, and the electricity bill is $1,000 in arrears.
The shelter was started 12 years ago to give homeless veterans a place to live and a phone number while they applied for benefits and jobs, Hood said. The idea was that as veterans got jobs, they would pay rent and subsidize incoming homeless veterans and, after three months or so, move out to their own apartments.
The shelter originally offered food but stopped buying it in recent months because of affordability, Hood said.
The mix of residents doesn't work financially anymore, said Rakesh Pal, deputy director of the shelter.
"When we were doing good, we had 10 people paying and three that we could help get on their feet. Now we have more nonpaying residents than paying. We can't do that anymore," Pal said.
That has led to a contentious dispute between some residents and the management. Several residents are upset about the closing of the shelter and contend that it should work financially. They feel the income is mismanaged. Hood and Pal said there are residents freeloading when they could be contributing.
"Nobody's trying to live in this 'paradise' for free," said Terry Price, a resident. "I've cooked, I've pitched in. These guys mismanaged the funds and they're putting people out."
Hood and Pal said the attitude of some residents is that the shelter owes them something.
"The majority that have gone through here worked out fine," Hood said. "A few are 'street slick' and think they can beat the system."
House manager David Odom has lived in the shelter for five years. "I'm going to lose the most," he said. "I don't make a lot of money. I've got to go out and get a job and a house all of a sudden.
"It's a hard job," Odom added. "We do get all kinds -- people off the street who have been forced to survive by shucking and jiving. We get a lot of different personalities and we have to adjust to it. They've earned the right to live the way they want to."
The shelter's bylaws prohibit drug or alcohol use and ban panhandling, Hood said.
Price complained that the management treats residents as if they were addicts or alcoholics when most aren't.
Some of the residents would like to try to run the place themselves.
"I don't know why we can't come together and try to make this place work," said Gerald Blummer, another resident. "I've done nothing but pay my rent and try to help people around here."
They are more than welcome to run a shelter there if they can get an agreement with the landlord, Hood said.
Not all the residents are disgruntled. Richard Luck is an example of a homeless veteran success story. A Vietnam veteran, he was living on the street until he came to the shelter four years ago.
"I was given an opportunity to get back on track. I had an address and a phone number. I applied for Social Security disability and other things and I got it. This place worked for me," he said. "I've got an income and I choose to stay here and be a part of helping out fellow veterans."
Pal thinks a shelter on a smaller scale could work and may try to organize one once the Central Valley Homeless Veterans Shelter is closed. He has applied for a federal grant for that purpose.
Hood noted that his shelter received no grants or outside money other than donations from veterans' groups.
"When the shelter was set up, it was veterans helping veterans," said shelter board member Robert Husman. "No one else takes care of us; we have to take care of ourselves. It's a sad day for us. We dedicated time and sometimes money to make it work."
For Hood, it's more personal. "It hurts me to shut it down after being my baby for 12 years," he said.
Bee staff writer Tim Moran can be reached at tmoran@modbee.com or 578-2349.
About 10 veterans live in the shelter at 664 Paradise Road in Modesto. Hood said he has found apartments for three of them, and County Veterans Services director Carolyn Hebenstreich said there are other Veterans Affairs and homeless shelters available for the others.
Hood, 65, said finances, his age and health were factors in the decision to close the shelter. He estimated that he is losing $2,000 a month on the operation and has debts of between $15,000 and $20,000 related to the shelter.
The Modesto Fire Department has cited the shelter's two buildings for problems with the sprinkler and alarm systems, and the electricity bill is $1,000 in arrears.
The shelter was started 12 years ago to give homeless veterans a place to live and a phone number while they applied for benefits and jobs, Hood said. The idea was that as veterans got jobs, they would pay rent and subsidize incoming homeless veterans and, after three months or so, move out to their own apartments.
The shelter originally offered food but stopped buying it in recent months because of affordability, Hood said.
The mix of residents doesn't work financially anymore, said Rakesh Pal, deputy director of the shelter.
"When we were doing good, we had 10 people paying and three that we could help get on their feet. Now we have more nonpaying residents than paying. We can't do that anymore," Pal said.
That has led to a contentious dispute between some residents and the management. Several residents are upset about the closing of the shelter and contend that it should work financially. They feel the income is mismanaged. Hood and Pal said there are residents freeloading when they could be contributing.
"Nobody's trying to live in this 'paradise' for free," said Terry Price, a resident. "I've cooked, I've pitched in. These guys mismanaged the funds and they're putting people out."
Hood and Pal said the attitude of some residents is that the shelter owes them something.
"The majority that have gone through here worked out fine," Hood said. "A few are 'street slick' and think they can beat the system."
House manager David Odom has lived in the shelter for five years. "I'm going to lose the most," he said. "I don't make a lot of money. I've got to go out and get a job and a house all of a sudden.
"It's a hard job," Odom added. "We do get all kinds -- people off the street who have been forced to survive by shucking and jiving. We get a lot of different personalities and we have to adjust to it. They've earned the right to live the way they want to."
The shelter's bylaws prohibit drug or alcohol use and ban panhandling, Hood said.
Price complained that the management treats residents as if they were addicts or alcoholics when most aren't.
Some of the residents would like to try to run the place themselves.
"I don't know why we can't come together and try to make this place work," said Gerald Blummer, another resident. "I've done nothing but pay my rent and try to help people around here."
They are more than welcome to run a shelter there if they can get an agreement with the landlord, Hood said.
Not all the residents are disgruntled. Richard Luck is an example of a homeless veteran success story. A Vietnam veteran, he was living on the street until he came to the shelter four years ago.
"I was given an opportunity to get back on track. I had an address and a phone number. I applied for Social Security disability and other things and I got it. This place worked for me," he said. "I've got an income and I choose to stay here and be a part of helping out fellow veterans."
Pal thinks a shelter on a smaller scale could work and may try to organize one once the Central Valley Homeless Veterans Shelter is closed. He has applied for a federal grant for that purpose.
Hood noted that his shelter received no grants or outside money other than donations from veterans' groups.
"When the shelter was set up, it was veterans helping veterans," said shelter board member Robert Husman. "No one else takes care of us; we have to take care of ourselves. It's a sad day for us. We dedicated time and sometimes money to make it work."
For Hood, it's more personal. "It hurts me to shut it down after being my baby for 12 years," he said.
Bee staff writer Tim Moran can be reached at tmoran@modbee.com or 578-2349.