Comments on: Parking the Homeless at First Presbyterian Church

By: Rev.R.L.Hall

Rev.R.L.Hall — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 23:03:03 +0000

Let’s not Throw our love ones away,or kick them to the curve.
what this Pastor,and church is doing is great
and a Blessing to the Dallas area..,
the Homeless need to know Christ Jesus Love them too.
Matthew 25:34-40 Do you Recognize…Jesus?

By: ubf's son

ubf's son — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:49:11 +0000

I support this church 100% my mother is out there. I sat with her yesterdat while she ate her dinner last night. Everyone homeless person doesn’t shoot up drugs and stuff. A lot of them are mental patients and need help. The state of Texas does minimal for the mental ill and I see know the city of dallas is doing the same. We live in city that cares more about profits than people. Again,I would like to thank the church for what its doing. And thank you for providing a security guard for them. God bless

By: Gene Tobe

Gene Tobe — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 02:11:12 +0000

The Church is providing a safe spot for those who refuse or cannot find a shelter spot. They CAN legally do that since the individuals sleeping in the parking lot are there with permission. However, if they take the residents inside they suddenly become a shelter which requires a permit the City of Dallas will never give them. They would shut it down in a minute!
I am ashamed that the City of Dallas has not resolved this need with a “safe” outdoor area for those not sleeping in shelters. A simple fix until the new center opens. It can be done and should be done.

By: JKR

JKR — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:21:05 +0000

Ship them to Collin County – it’s about time they took some responsibility instead of freeloading at Parkland and expecting us to take care of the region’s poor.

By: Tosca

Tosca — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:03:49 +0000

I just went by the church, it is totally clean during the day.

By: Bob Stoller

Bob Stoller — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:00:09 +0000

Apparently, most of the commenters have no idea that THIS CHURCH and THIS MINISTRY have for years been trying ON THEIR OWN to minister to these throwaway people, as their Christian consciences compel them by feeding them and helping them obtain what few social services are available for them. They offered up the parking lot when the City of Dallas tried to sweep these people off the streets, like yesterday’s trash. I am not a Christian, but most of you are. You should be happy that these Christians lead by example.

By: Jack T

Jack T — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:54:48 +0000

I think the Reverend is right to do it.

And I wonder if we could retire the homeless/stray animal connection?

I find it deeply troubling on several levels.

By: David

David — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:50:50 +0000

It appears to me that the option was to have the clients of the Stewpot rounded up by police every evening or give them a spot to sleep. The church chose to do the later.

By: Bethany

Bethany — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:40:52 +0000

How is doing all of that doing nothing? That is the sort of thing I have been involved in before – something that produces a lot more personal pride than sleeping in a church parking lot does.

I guess I’ve always been a “teach a man to fish” kind of girl, you know?

While I don’t know if I’d go so far as to besmirch the motive behind the parking lot offer, I just think that with a little more thought into it, maybe people wouldn’t have minded so much. I think of it as inviting the neighbors to the party you’re having, so they don’t call the cops on the party you’re having.

But I admire any group who tries to tackle the issue of homelessness in a city where it’s basically illegal to be homeless.

By: Bethany

Bethany — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:33:47 +0000

I think the better summary would be that if a church – any church – wishes to begin a homeless ministry, that church should a) make sure they’re doing something that is actually a ministry (i.e., making things better), and b) do more than dip a toe in.

You can’t see progress with piecemeal, make-shift effort – especially in this case where there are people affected by this decision that really had no say in it, such as the people that live and work in the area surrounding the church.

Don’t get me wrong – it’s a lovely gesture, but perhaps there are better ways and means to address the problem.