The News-Gazette.com: Safe Haven's new home in works

Safe Haven's new home in works

By Steve Bauer

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 6:45 AM CDT

CHAMPAIGN – Volunteers will begin cleanup this weekend at some vacant apartments at Restoration Urban Ministries in advance of renovations to make room for members of a local "tent community."

Safe Haven, a self-governing group of homeless people who lived in tents and then at local churches, will move from St. Mary Catholic Church in Champaign to Restoration Urban Ministries, 1213 Parkland Court, C.

In June, Safe Haven established a "tent community" in the backyard of the Catholic Worker House, 317 S. Randolph St., C. Organizers said the group has its own governing council to enforce rules against drugs, alcohol and fighting to provide a safe alternative to traditional homeless shelters.

In July, the Champaign Plan Commission upheld a zoning administrator's ruling that the tents violated the city zoning ordinance. The group moved to a Mahomet campground, then to New Covenant church in downtown Champaign and eventually to St. Mary Church, 612 E. Park St., where members have stayed nights in the parsonage center.

Kevin Jackson, director of Champaign's Neighborhood Services Department, said once the Safe Haven members moved inside, the city no longer had an zoning issue. Use of Restoration Urban Ministries as a shelter for the Safe Haven members is "consistent zoning-wise with what they do now," he said

The current plan involves a collaboration with Restoration Urban Ministries, Empty Tomb and Safe Haven.

Restoration Urban Ministries, a faith-based group based at a former motel in Champaign, will take in the Safe Haven "tent community" with volunteers helping with repairs to 17 vacant rooms. When Safe Haven members move out in the spring, Restoration Urban Ministries can use those rooms for others who need housing.

A cleanup day is tentatively set for Saturday, with repairs the following weekend.

Empty Tomb's Sylvia Ronsvalle said Tuesday, "We just need to get in there and get the work done. Tell people to pray."

She and her husband, John, proposed in August that volunteers and tradesmen make repairs so Restoration Urban Ministries could take in Safe Haven members, she said.

"We are confident both skilled and unskilled labor will be donated," Ronsvalle said.

"If Safe Haven does not need all 17 rooms, then Restoration Urban Ministries will be able to host others that are homeless," she said.

The Rev. Ervin Williams, executive director of Restoration Urban Ministries, said he met Monday with representatives of the Safe Haven group.

"We're pretty close to getting a deal," Williams said in a phone interview Monday evening. "We've got several groups coming in to help us get the rooms ready."

Gary Bowman, Champaign building inspector supervisor, said he will discuss building improvement plans and any building code issues that come up.

A member of Safe Haven declined to discuss the agreement.

The Rev. Tom Royer of St. Mary said, "We're making progress."

"We are grateful for Restoration for getting involved," he said.

Gratitude is also given to Empty Tomb for offering the home maintenance crews to make repairs to rooms at Restoration Urban Ministries, he said.

"The big issue was finding winter shelter," Royer said.