New Life sets up outpost at Indian Park in Cape Girardeau

Taking over Indian Park for the Independence Day weekend is an attempt to show that Cape Girardeau's poor have unmet needs that should be addressed, the Rev. Larry Rice said Saturday.

Rice, who said he has not given up on obtaining the federal building at 339 Broadway to use as a homeless shelter, set up an outpost of his New Life Evangelistic Center with the help of the NAACP's Southeast Missouri chapter. From 1 p.m. Saturday until 7 p.m. today, there will be a continuous presence, with offerings of free food and clothing as well as information about his ministry, an affiliated renewable energy cooperative and the needs of the homeless.

"This event is to reach out to the community and show we mean to help," Rice said.

But along with the words of accommodation, signs posted in the park shelter showed another reason for the two-day presence -- to challenge city leaders who have opposed Rice's shelter plan.

"Those who oppose the poor insult their maker but those who are kind to the needy honor him." read one sign that quoted Proverbs. "Stand up to discrimination against the homeless," read another. "Homeless in Cape Girardeau need more than just two nights in a hotel. They need a hand up, not a hand out," a third sign said.

Since Rice first applied for the building, city leaders have sought to show that homelessness in Cape Girardeau is an issue that is under control. To fill gaps, they have proposed seeking funds to build nine units of transitional housing to help people move to self-sufficiency and Cape Girardeau County officials have agreed to apply for a $171,000 grant to assist people who need temporary help paying their rent.

"Established agencies have not wanted to admit there is a problem," Rice said. "All those programs are good, but they do not solve the problem. When someone ends up homeless, they need a place to go."

Rice's application for the federal building was rejected May 29. In denying the request, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Rice's application failed to show how he planned to coordinate services, failed to demonstrate a sufficient need, proposed a timeline for implementing the programs that was too slow and didn't show the financial strength to make good on its promises.

After initial opposition, Rice has started to build a local coalition of support, with Deborah Young, president of the local NAACP chapter, leading that effort. She continues to collect signatures on petitions supporting Rice's plan for the federal building.

Since adding her support to Rice, Young said she has learned that homelessness in Cape Girardeau is a hidden problem. Don't look under bridges or on benches near 24-hour stores for the homeless, she said. Instead, take a close look at who is living on the couch at a neighbor's home, she said.

"If you look at the fact that a homeless person is any individual who does not have a legal address, then I have found that a lot of times it is individuals living on top of each other," Young said.

Young participated in one city planning meeting that included organizations that have taken a stand against Rice's plan. She said she walked out because the group seemed intent on viewing the problem from a narrow perspective.

"It was a waste of time," she said. "They just wanted to say they invited me."

Young said she supports Rice because Cape Girardeau needs change. "If we want to change anything, we have to stand up, get involved and be counted."

rkeller@semissourian.com

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Pertinent addresses:

Indian Park, Cape Girardeau, MO

339 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO