West Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association

Subject: Presbyterian Night Shelter

I am writing to you in response to an e-mail I was forwarded stating your concerns about the population of the shelter. I am a Board member of the Presbyterian Night Shelter, the Day Resource Center, and a member of the Mayor's Advisory Council on Homelessness. I would like to share with you my thoughts and invite you to contact me at any time.
First, the Board and Staff of PNS do not want to contribute to increased vagrancy and crime and are making efforts to evaluate who we are serving and what services are needed to move our clients from homelessness to stability. In the past months, PNS has added a Director of Programs and Services as well as several newly funded case managers to serve our clients and much progress has been made. ID cards are being produced and as of March 1 are required for entrance. There are a large number of homeless individuals that we serve on a regular bases that have no formal ID. Efforts are being made through PNS and the Day Resource Center to help these people to get identification (drivers license, TX ID, SS) but it is not an ''overnight'' process. PNS does ask for formal ID at intake, but does not plan to deny entrance to those without it. Our mission is to serve a population which has historically been very difficult to serve and as a shelter of last resort I feel we must have some latitude.
In terms of people using this as a long term residence, we are addressing that now with a more comprehensive case management model, with our first priority being the elderly and infirm population. Several clients have already been moved into housing. Additionally, we are actively seeking to partner with any service provider that may be able to link our clients to appropriate services and programs. We have coordinated our efforts with MHMR for increased services that will assist some of our special populations.
Ultimately, the plan is to structure a tiered program which focuses on moving people out of homelessness. I do think we need to make some changes in order to achieve this and I am confident that we are moving ahead and that many positive improvements have already been made. We are currently assessing our clients to be able to provide a statistical overview of who they are and what they need. From there we will segment populations within the shelter and develop service plans to address their needs. I can assure you that the Board and Staff will work collaboratively with the community to improve the neighborhood and the lives of all of our citizens. I appreciate your concern and hope that you will respond with any questions you may have.

Thank you,
Suzy Thompson
work: 817-332-5424, ext 115



By Suzy Thompson

Aggrevated and Disappointed

Thank you Suzy for taking the time to write your informative email. It is very encouraging to see that you are now beginning to evaluate your services and systems. It is unbelievable to me that this had not been done before today. It is unbelievable to me that you sit on 2 Boards and 1 Commission that deal with ''homeless'' individuals and that this wonderful City of Fort Worth is in the position that it is in currently regarding the laws, City Ordinances, and problems, issues and concerns that the neighborhood and city has with this population.

I don't know of one single business along E. Lancaster EAST of Riverside that has been approached by anyone from MACH or on the Board of any homeless shelters asking how this population impacts the business community, nor have I heard of you being involved with the Neighborhood Associations surrounding this concentration of individuals. It is unbelievable to me that no one has aggressively campaigned to get the beer store's liquor license taken away until now. Perhaps it's because not one person has bothered to care what is going on in the neighborhood in which you ''serve'' your ''clients.'' Therefore when I hear from people such as yourself, who are involved in the direction of such businesses and populations, that you ''really care about the community and want to work with the community'', I have to ask.....where have you been and what have you been doing up until now?

My questions to you would be:

How are you funded?
Do any Board Members get paid for such?
Where is your money spent?
What exact services to you offer to people?
Are the Board Members REQUIRED to tour each facility so many times per year? If so, at what hours? If not, why?
How often are the mats that people sleep on cleaned?
How often is the ''walk in'' cleaned? With what substance and how is it cleaned?
What is your legal capacity?
Do you strictly abide by this capacity?
Why do you have ''emergency'' in your name? What does this mean? Do you get more money for having this listed in your name?
What safety measures do you provide for your ''clients?''
What is your security system like? ie, do you have cameras, lighting, etc.
What are the children exposed to? How clean is their place? What activities do you have for the children?

Don't take this PERSONALLY, I've never met you, I'm sure you are a caring individual. However, this is about ''business'' and I think that the ''leaders'' serving this paticular population have been gravely remiss in your duties and responsibilities.

I am a nice, caring person myself. I am honest, hard working, and passionate about doing what I say I will do and I expect leaders in any capacity to do what they say they will do. I'm sure we will cross paths one day and I look forward to working with you in the future. For the time being, I would like to know the answers to the questions above, at your convenience.

Again, Suzy, thank you for taking the time to communicate. I do appreciate anyone's willingness to communicate with people who raise concerns about their business.

Aggrevated and Disappointed with what I see on E. Lancaster,