For those of you concerned over how the Safe Haven Community plans to weather the winter, they have released following statement:
On Friday [11/20] Safe Haven Community relocates from the Oscar Romero Parish Center of St. Mary Catholic Church to facilities owned by Restoration Urban Ministries. This move brings Safe Haven to its sixth location since it formed in June as a tent community of homeless Champaign residents. It reflects the group’s ongoing tenacity and determination to continue as a self-governing community.
Many Champaign-Urbana individuals, churches, and other organizations have collaborated to assure that Safe Haven has a home for the coming winter. St. Mary Catholic Church has shared its parish center with Safe Haven since mid-August, graciously extending its original thirty day invitation until the beginning of the Thanksgiving holiday. As fall approached, empty tomb, inc. extended an offer to coordinate renovation of 14 rooms at Restoration Urban Ministries and bring them into building code compliance. In return, those rooms would be dedicated to Safe Haven use through the coming winter. Rev. Ervin Williams of Restoration Urban Ministries and Safe Haven representatives then reached an agreement for Safe Haven to reside at Restoration Urban Ministries as a separate organization until mid-spring.
Numerous community congregations responded to empty tomb, inc’s offer with donations of funds, services, and materials. On Thursday, this process was completed with the installation of beds. Congregations and church-related groups providing support toward this effort include: .Apostolic Christian Church-Champaign, Faith United Methodist Church-Champaign, First Presbyterian Church-Champaign, First United Methodist Church-Champaign, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church, Grace United Methodist Church-Urbana, Knights of Columbus, New Horizon UMC Small Group, New Horizon United Methodist Church, Quest United Methodist Church, Savoy United Methodist Church, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church – Campus Center, St. Mary Catholic Church, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Stone Creek Church, Stratford Park Bible Chapel, Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church, Twin City Bible Church. In addition, since late August, a coalition of congregations has been meeting bi-weekly at First Mennonite Church of Champaign-Urbana to address opportunities for Safe Haven support and assistance.
During the upcoming winter, Safe Haven and its supporters will continue to work toward resolution of its long-term housing needs. This includes ongoing pursuit of its underlying vision to provide residents with mutual support and safety, while enhancing their sense of personal dignity, privacy, and self-sufficiency.