April 13, 2008 08:43 pm
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CARTHAGE, Mo. — There is no better example of the Carthage community spirit than the monumental effort under way to provide a new center for the homeless.
The Carthage Crisis Center, currently housed in a crowded, 3,100-square-foot building, hopes to move to a 43,000-square-foot home by the end of the year.
Brian Bisbee, the center’s director, took an hour of his day to give me a tour of both centers, and an understanding of what a tremendous difference this effort will make for the homeless men, women and children who need help. Twenty people had stayed the previous night, but there are only 16 beds. The remaining four slept on couches and mats in a room that also serves as an all-purpose living, meeting and TV room.
A combined kitchen, dining and food-storage area is the size that would suffice for a family of four. One stackable washer and dryer must meet not only the residents’ needs, but the Bisbees’ as well. One shower and bathroom serves 16 men. Recently, Bisbee had to turn away a couple with a 3-month-old baby because there was no room. His office is barely large enough to accommodate two people.
Despite these limitations, residents recently celebrated the fact that one woman had worked and saved enough money to rent her own home. They provided her with a couch, a television set, a vacuum cleaner, a dresser and a food package to set up her new home.
“We encourage able-bodied people to get out and work,” Bisbee said. “We hold them accountable for their money until they can save enough to get a place of their own.”
The center assists clients with resumes, identification, and in learning, keeping and improving their job skills. They must get to work on their own. A very few have cars; some bicycles are available, but some clients must walk.
“We are trying to get to the root of problems in people’s lives so they can get a fresh start and become healthy, productive taxpayers,” Bisbee said.
With Leggett & Platt Inc.’s donation last year of its former research and development center at Central Avenue and Main Street, the Carthage Crisis Center made a large leap in its mission of helping the increasing number of homeless people in this area. “We’ve raised rehab and renovation funds, and many volunteers are still helping,” Bisbee said. “We’ve made tremendous progress. Walls have been erected and windows replaced on the first floor. Windows are to be replaced on the second floor, and drop ceilings are to be hung today.
About 30 young men volunteered Saturday “to clean up our furniture and appliance area and rearrange stuff downstairs so it can be given away to needy families,” Bisbee said. “Different groups have come in and painted, and a gentleman this morning has been laying floor tiles.”
Still needed are people to finish floors, install Sheetrock, lay ceramic tile and do carpentry work.
Bisbee’s wife and partner in the Crisis Center, Marilyn, laid out the arrangement of the new shelter. The Bisbees will have an apartment on the first floor, as will another staff family. The center hopes to hire three part-time staff members to share the work, and two interns. With a degree in home economics, Marilyn Bisbee supervises meal preparations, keeps books and handles a myriad of other duties.
“We’re trying to impact lives of people,” Brian Bisbee said. “Perhaps our contacts will make it so they will never be homeless again.”
He knows that would not have been possible without the generous support of Carthage residents. “This is a very gracious community,” he said. “People have been so gracious in supplying food for us. We only spent $650 for food last year.
“We are committed to seeing that we give back to the community.”
Besides caring for the city’s homeless, the center distributes excess food to Crosslines, Head Start and day-care centers; offers free furniture and appliances to families in need; and provides transportation for inmates leaving jail or travelers who may be stranded in the city.
This faith-based homeless shelter is financed through $12,000 in tax dollars, funds from United Way, and donations from individuals, businesses and churches. While it could have access to more tax dollars if it would allow residents to opt out of the faith-based services, Brian Bisbee said the center has chosen not to take a lot of government funds.
“Our track record speaks for itself, so we’re not about to compromise,” he said.
The center was founded in 1997 by the Rev. Bruce Green, an Episcopal minister, and representatives of nine other churches. It appears that the center is carrying on their vision.
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