Shelters

The city put out a press release listening the three public places where those needing shelter this weekend can go. Not sure if the Warming Center will be open 24 hours as the organization says it has staffing shortages. The other two locations are Good Samaritan House and Take Action Today, a new location on West Main  I would be willing to bet that the lobbies of public buildings, like the post offices and Multi Model station, will also have people taking refuge in them.

University Baptist Church

 If the city wanted to be proactive about the whole University Baptist church situation, it could work with the church to have the property deeded over to the city, then work with Good Samaritan House to develop a play by which the organization could make use of the facility with input from stakeholders living in the area.  Otherwise, based on what has happened in the past, the building will sit empty, slowly getting vandalized and stripped, until it gets voluntarily surrendered to the city and demolished as most large abandoned  buildings in Carbondale have.

University Baptist Church

 According to this post on Good Samaritan House's Facebook page, the board voted not to accept the gift of the University Baptist Church building. The board decided the organization does not have the resources to renovate and maintain such a large facility. So, for those not wanting to have a homeless resource center located in the southwest part of town, you got your wish as the rezoning request has been removed from the city council agenda.

Of course, that does leave the very big problem of what to do with the building once the church dissolves and stops using it. The city will likely have to step up police visits to the property since it will not longer have staff keeping an eye on it 

University Baptist Church Rezoning

 It appears several city council members are not in favor of rezoning University Baptist Church for use as a homeless shelter co-ordination center, due to its proximity to the owner occupied southwest section of Carbondale. Of course, the board of the University Baptist Church has offered the building gratis to Good Samaritan House, so not using it for the very purpose Good Samaritan House exists means we will a large empty building sitting on the edge of that owner occupied area.

University Baptist Church Closing

University Baptist Church on South Oakland has announced it will shutter the church at the end of October with an open house on Oct 25 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It appears the church will no longer hold services and will turn the building over to Good Samaritan Ministries, allowing Good Sam to move its operations under one roof, while still maintaining the food pantry and clothes closet.

Good Samaritan House

 Mike Wadiak, owner of Campus View Rentals, has donated the house behind Good Samaritan House to the non-profit, meaning Good Sam will be able to provide accommodations for 6 to 8 more people. Good Sam is looking for household items, beds, furniture, etc. Email Patty at goodsam@mchsi.com you can help

Cookbook Swap

 Picked up a lot of extra cookbooks during the epidemic?  You can donate them to benefit Good Samaritan House at the Carbondale Farmers' Market this Saturday. You can also take books, should you wish, for a donation to Good Sam.