Safe Haven moves to Restoration Urban Ministries

Billie Creek, of Champaign, packs up the library at Safe Haven on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009. All residents at Safe Haven are moving into a hotel for the winter on Friday.
Brad Meyer The Daily Illini

Champaign homeless community Safe Haven has reached a temporary housing solution after it ran into problems with the city council this past summer.

The Safe Haven community will be moving for the winter into a formerly vacant hotel now owned by Restoration Urban Ministries, located near Bradley and Mattis avenues.

Ryan Britton, resident director for Restoration Urban Ministries, said the plight of Safe Haven had become a community concern.

“The community was worried about what was going to happen when it got cold,” Britton said. “This was a way to keep them out of the cold.”

Abby Harmon, Safe Haven volunteer organizer, has helped the group since its conception in mid-June 2009. She will help out with the move-in.

Harmon said the community is “really excited” about the move to the residence.

“I think it is fantastic,” Harmon said. “We needed a room, and they stepped in and helped out.”

David Nash is a Safe Haven council member and resident.

“I’m all packed and ready,” he added. “I’m excited, maybe a little nervous, I want everything to work out.”

Mike Morgan was brought to the area from Chicago by a case worker and has been a Safe Haven resident for a week. He compared the program to the Public Action to Deliver Shelter, or PADS, in the Chicago suburbs, which offers seasonal shelter.

“I was at the orientation,” he added. “I just got here, so I don’t know about the whole setup.”

However, not every Safe Haven resident is excited about the move.

Valentino Plaza said he does not think he will like it at Restoration Urban Ministries because of the facility’s lack of leniency.

“We have our own problems, but we won’t throw a resident out if we smell alcohol on them,” Plaza said. “Their property is surrounded by barbed wire, they won’t let us lock our doors; little things like that.”

Britton said Restoration Urban Ministries was one of several religious groups that met several times to discuss the future of Safe Haven. The ministry renovated 17 rooms to make space for the Safe Haven residents. There were private donations and the actual construction was done by the religious volunteer group Empty Tomb. The move to the renovated facility was the best solution and the directors were willing to help, she said.

“These were people who brought their skills,” Britton said. “They donated their time and their labor and took care of pretty much everything.”

Britton said Restoration Urban Ministries are housing 85 residents including men, women and children. The group offers self-sufficiency classes, drug and alcohol addiction treatment, spiritual advisements and church services including devotionals.

“This is just for the winter,” Harmon said. “The only plans that we have worked out are for the winter.”

Britton said Safe Haven residents have a contract with Restoration Urban Ministries until May 1, 2010. She added that she is unsure about what will happen after it expires.

“They are more than welcome to stay with us and enroll in our self-sufficiency programs or they might return to what they were doing before,” Britton said. “I’m not sure what the future holds.”

Nash said he hopes most of the residents will be able to support themselves and have their own place before the community contract expires. Those who are left will look for another place to live, he said.