Area Residents Protest Church's Sheltering of Homeless

Many in the capacity crowd at City Hall came to protest a local church that is providing shelter for the homeless. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

Local residents packed Menifee City Hall Wednesday night -- some carrying "No Homeless Shelter" signs -- and nearly a dozen addressed the City Council in opposition to a local church's act of providing shelter for the homeless.

Although there was no item on the agenda regarding the church's action, residents of the Sun City core community of Menifee circulated emails in organizing a protest to what they believe is an increasingly dangerous problem in the city. In response to reports of the protest, Reverend Bill Freeman of the United Church of Christ attended Wednesday's meeting as well. Joining him were two men who said they had been helped by UCC while homeless.

"The homeless are breaking into our homes, and it's being tracked back to the church," resident Marianne Keersmaekers said in reference to a small group of homeless people who are being allowed to sleep at the United Church of Christ, located at the corner of McCall Boulevard and Sun City Boulevard in the heart of the Sun City core (left)

"We live one street away from these people. They are canvassing our neighborhood and coming back to break in. If the church wants to do something for people, help the seniors. There are a lot of people in Menifee that need help."

Resident Tom Thurman told council members that many seniors in the area no longer drive, are confined to the area and are "easily intimidated and give panhandlers what they want." Douglas Gibson said residents have been told by police that homeless living at UCC have been connected to crimes in the neighborhood.

The church has been proactive in offering its facility and services to the community in many ways since the arrival of Freeman as pastor in 2013. In November 2014, UCC announced it was opening its "peace garden" -- a patio area with benches at the back of the church -- to the public for prayer and meditation. Last December, the church announced it would perform free weddings for those in need.

In February, Freeman (right) and his staff offered free doughnuts to residents who chose to celebrate Fat Tuesday -- an event known elsewhere as "Mardi Gras, the day before Ash Wednesday." In April, UCC held a blessing of the animals ceremony in recognition of Earth Day. And earlier this month, UCC invited the public to join in weekly prayer sessions in the peace garden.

Critics claim the church grounds is instead a haven for homeless who commit crimes in the area while being allowed to stay at UCC. Freeman says UCC is not a homeless shelter and currently provides food and a place to sleep for only three homeless people. He said UCC is not equipped to provide shelter for more than six people and that no one being housed at the church has ever been arrested.

"I don't know what the police are telling you about where these people (committing crimes) are coming from," said Freeman, dressed in a white suit. "Two people have graduated from our residential assistance program and are now back on their feet. They are no longer homeless. The three who do stay there now patrol our grounds.

"What are we supposed to do -- let them sleep in the parking lot next to Rite Aid or Wal-Mart? We're a church, not a social club. I can't turn people away."

Ray Hawkins, a UCC council member, said shelter is offered inside for some homeless and that others sleep in the garden. He said they are given money to wash their clothes at a laundromat, as well as food through donations from church members.

"Which is better? To have them curl up in one of our rooms or be walking around the plaza all night long?" Hawkins asked.

Kirk Widener told council members he had a successful business before he fell upon hard times and found himself homeless a year and a half ago. He said the church helped him get back on his feet and that he is no longer homeless.

"They screen all the people who come there," he said. "They don't condone the use of drugs or anything illegal. And to say any of the crimes were traced back to the church is not true."

A recent homeless count in Menifee indicated there are about 12 homeless people currently staying in the area. Resident Ruth Goulet said she believes many are people who come in on buses to take advantage of the area.

"They're not homeless," she said. "All these people get Medicaid and Social Security checks. They have found a haven out here."

Because the remarks were made during the public comments portion of the meeting and the item was not on the agenda, council members were prohibited by the Brown Act of entering into a discussion on the subject. However, after suggesting he would later in the meeting request that the subject be placed on a future agenda, council member Greg August was allowed to make a motion -- seconded by Mayor Scott Mann -- to ask staff to study the impact of the facility on the community and to report back to the council at a future date.