Lifebridge Working to Adapt to Times And Neighborhood

Recent developments at , formerly the Salem Mission, seem to indicate a more realistic view of the shelter's relationship and impact on the neighborhood it shares with Salem families.

In 2002, when I was working full time at the the "homeless shelter" on Crombie Street first appeared on my radar screen. Back then, the old Salem News building was a magnet for those who lived on the streets. Many of these street denizens would sit on the marketplace benches during the day drinking, sleeping, and panhandling.  It affected business at the Shanty every day.

I worked with the and the Salem Mission on a daily basis trying to address these issues. Then Patrolman (now Sergeant) John Burke, the Mission's "Tiny" Caulfield and I became very familiar with each other through this process.  I was aggressive and vocal in these efforts. Results were achieved through a persistent stubbornness.

Then, 2004 brought the creation of the Task Force on Homelessness by former Mayor Stanley Usovisz. I was asked to sit on this committee along with Jean Pelletier, the Ward 3 councilor, and Paul Prevey, who was not yet Ward 6 councilor. It was there that I first met Andrew Oliver, who was, and still is, the president of Lifebridge.

We discussed and attempted to address neighborhood concerns in regard to the move from the Crombie Street location to the current Margin Street location. Issues were raised, promises were made (and for the most part met), and the now here we are six years later. 

The initial "utopian" vision of ending homelessness completely, while certainly admirable, was not realistic. Lifebridge has not disavowed this goal, but seems to have accepted that its true work right now lies in dealing with the true day-to-day issues of its clients and the neighborhood in which they live. This view works well with their long term goals.

It is good to hear that Lifebridge has given up on any immediate plans to develop the old St. Mary's Church for more housing. I hope that they will be able to work out a plan with Joe Cultera and the for use of that building.  My initial skepticism of Cultera's vision is well documented. It will be with great pleasure that I will eat crow if and when that vision is achieved.

Before the City approves plans for the proposed addition of two floors to the current shelter building, a few matters need to be discussed and resolved.

The use of Lifebridge to house level 3 sex offenders is a continuing problem. I understand that they have to live somewhere. I wonder if there are better places than the middle of the downtown and at the edge of a residential neighborhood to house them. This issue needs to be discussed openly and with brutal honesty. 

Panhandling and drinking in the neighborhood is always an issue. The street outreach program needs to continue to increase its visibility and efforts to curb this. Working directly with those who engage in these behaviors and with the local businesses is required. 

Another situation requiring discussion is the group of people who are actually living in the area around the fan house across the street at Riley Plaza. They may not be actual residents of Lifebridge, but Lifebridge is the reason they are there. This same issue afflicted the original shelter when it was on Crombie Street and it migrated with them to Margin Street.  

Yesterday, as I walked the area, I counted  over a dozen empty liquor bottles of various sizes littering the fan house area. One vehicle with a smashed windshield sat with a sleeping bag draped across the front seat. A couple sat on the wall smoking cigarettes. They are there every day all day. This has been an ongoing problem. Both Lifebridge and the City need to address it.

Addressing these smaller, local issues must remain a part of the plan to address the larger issue of homelessness.

I support Lifebridge and its mission. We should all support them. Lifebridge, in turn, needs to continue its efforts to support its neighbors. 

I am sure they will, but we as neighbors and friends need to continue to inform them of our concerns, fears and desires. In this, we should always be persistent and stubborn.