New shelter opens in Blessed Sacrament's center

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press
 
WORCESTER – A new, three-month homeless shelter opened Monday in Blessed Sacrament Parish’s Phelan Center at 6 Federal Place. The center is behind Blessed Sacrament’s rectory at 551 Pleasant St.
“When we showed up there was a woman sitting on the steps,” and she looked sad, Ken Bates told The Catholic Free Press Monday morning. Mr. Bates is president and CEO of Open Sky Community Services, a Worcester-based behavioral health and human services organization that is operating the shelter. 
He said the woman bought her son and her son’s friend to the shelter because she feared losing her own housing if she kept them with her, and because her son needed mental health treatment. She was very thankful the shelter took in her son and his friend. 
The round-the-clock, 60-bed shelter is using the Phelan Center through March 31, with the aim of putting its guests on a path to stability. At the shelter, guests can avail themselves of services for help with recovery, safe housing and other needs, said Maydee Morales, shelter director. Ms. Morales is director of emergency services for Catholic Charities Worcester County but is leaving that job this week. She oversaw Catholic Charities’ Family Shelter on Caroline Street for two years. Previously she ran a Friendly House family shelter for seven years, she said.
The shelter at Blessed Sacrament is called Sowing Seeds of Hope at Bethlehem Hall, said Ms. Morales, a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Oxford. She explained the name this way: “You buried us, but you forgot that we were seeds,” the homeless could say.
“A lot of times our homeless folks are forgotten; people are blind to them,” Ms. Morales said. “But, with a little bit of soil … fertilizer … water … support, they flourish into beautiful flowers. That’s what we want to do.” 
Blessed Sacrament Parish suggested the name Bethlehem Hall, “which I think is appropriate for the season,” she said. “We’re opening up on Christmas week. Just the same way that we welcome the Holy Family that week,” we welcome guests to the shelter.
“We’re so grateful for being embraced by Blessed Sacrament parishioners,” who have stopped by to see the space and bring donations, she continued.
Mr. Bates said the shelter is funded by the state Department of Housing and Community Development, through the South Middlesex Opportunity Council, which operates other shelters in Worcester.
He said guests access a bed, which they can keep until the day they sign out, through a “first-come, first-serve" intake process. They do not need to line up nightly for a bed. 
About 100 people attended a meeting about the shelter Dec. 11 in the Phelan Center. Some speakers also talked with The Catholic Free Press later.
Father Thomas G. Landry, Blessed Sacrament’s pastor, said people could attribute his agreement to host the shelter to naivete, but he attributed it to his understanding of the Gospel. 
Blessed Sacrament’s role is providing the space, free of charge, he said.
Mr. Bates said United Way is helping Open Sky pay for electrical, security and fire upgrades, and Open Sky will pay all utility costs.
Blessed Sacrament’s religious education classes are held in Epiphany House, which adjoins the Phelan Center, but will not be accessible from it, Father Landry said. Basketball teams which used the center are being relocated.
Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty said homelessness is an overwhelming problem locally and nationally. 
One local shelter, Hotel Grace, has been unable to find a new location since Ascension Church on Vernon Street, where it was located, was sold by St. John Parish. 
City Manager Eric D. Batista said that the city began looking for a site to locate a shelter in September. Twelve sites, including other churches, were considered, but did not work out. State regulations limit where shelters can be located, but they can be housed in facilities of non-profit organizations. 
Last month city officials met with Blessed Sacrament’s pastor and parish council and Open Sky, which has been supporting homeless people for more than 25 years, but hasn’t run a homeless shelter, Mr. Bates said.
With the involvement of the city, a lease agreement for the Phelan Center was established between Open Sky and the Worcester Diocese.
Ms. Morales said the shelter at Blessed Sacrament is a low-barrier shelter – it can take in people who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but they may not have or use such substances on the property. 
If someone coming to the shelter is under the influence “we continue to engage them, to make sure that their needs are getting met,” Mr. Bates said. “Our staff are trained in de-escalation techniques,” and offer access to detoxification treatment centers.
The shelter will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. Shelter guests are free to come and go but are not to congregate outside on the property except during supervised smoking breaks. Quiet hours are 10 p.m.-6 a.m.
Asked at the meeting if the shelter will be here just this year, Ms. Morales said she hopes it will be run so well “you will invite us next year.”
 Meeting attendees raised concerns about bringing homeless people to the neighborhood and complained about loitering and panhandling there now.
“They’re here anyway … let’s do something good to help them while they’re here,” said Father Landry, to applause. 
Scott Schaeffer-Duffy, of the SS. Francis and Therese Catholic Worker House, said he and his wife are lectors at Blessed Sacrament. He noted that Christmas is coming and that the Holy Family had no place to go.
“Give it a chance,” he said of the shelter. “Let’s make this a Christmas decision we can be proud of.” 
“I am very proud to be part of a parish that is stepping up to help people,” said parishioner Paula Bushey.
A woman who spoke at the meeting about being homeless said she now owns a home. 
“I was cranky … dirty,” she said. “The community wished I didn’t exist,” which was painful. “I wasn’t dangerous; I was in danger. We are failing to see the human being in front of us.” The homeless need support, she said, adding that she hopes people will, “as Christ tells us,” see others as their neighbors. Listeners applauded.
That cold, snowy night, another attendee said she was sleeping in a tent, is in recovery and took personal responsibility for getting into this position.
“We are asking for a chance,” she said. “We need help.”