“We have a responsibility as a community to take care of those members in our community,” said Victorie Wilson, who provided public comment to the Planning Commission [that denied a church from setting up a warming center for homeless people]. Give them a warm, safe place to stay… Give them more opportunities to choose where they sleep for the night.”
The Rapid City, S.D. Planning Commission denied a church their right to use its own property as a warming center for the homeless in 6 degree weather. The Commission voted 6 to 2 stating concern of the church’s “mission” to meet fire codes.
Local business owners had pressured the local government to deny the permit. So instead of allowing the church to follow their teachings, it seems local government would rather allow people to die in the cold!
Many are in favor, though. They point out that shelters in unused buildings would be a great addition to the city. And further, that, “We have a responsibility as a community to take care of those members in our community,” said Victorie Wilson, who provided public comment to the Planning Commission, “it is on us for having those failings of them being unhoused. Give them a warm, safe place to stay. Give them more opportunities to choose where they sleep for the night.”
A talk show host (watch Kyle Kulinski’s righteous rant on Secular Talk below) says people have a right to have a roof over their head, a church has a right to shelter people on it’s property and government should leave them alone. About the City he said: Their answer is to “let them freeze.”
Cathy Talbott is a former telephone operator, a job lost to automation. She was a homeless mother of two and fights for welfare rights. A former co-host of a weekly community radio program out of Carbondale, IL, “Occupy the Airwaves,” Cathy is the Environmental Desk for the People’s Tribune.
