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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) — When Charles Ahrens looks at the unfinished floors and walls of the third floor of a building that once hosted comedy shows, he sees a future home for people living on the streets, many of them mentally ill.
Ahrens, who is pastor of the Abundant Life in Christ Church, and a group of sturdy volunteers is working to transform the four-story building at 108 E. Market St. in downtown Bloomington into a space that could provide short-term housing for about 30 people.
A former chaplain with the Salvation Army who also worked with a street ministry for the homeless in San Francisco, he is undeterred by the magnitude of the project.
"It doesn't scare me. It's exciting. We have a good team," said Ahrens, who moved his church from a location on Lee Street to the former Laugh comedy club building in December. About 50 people attend Sunday worship services in the bright, sprawling first-floor room that is lined with rows of second-hand chairs.
On weekdays, volunteers arrive to set up coffee for morning Bible study and coordinate the community outreach work they perform on the streets.
"We have people who are desperately poor serving other poor people," said Ahrens.
Ahrens lives in one of the apartments on the second floor that includes two 3-bedroom and one 2-bedroom apartments along with space for dormitory-style housing. The 20 walled cubicles on the third floor that served as offices for State Farm in the 1950's will become rooms for homeless men.
Karen Zangerle, executive director of PATH (Providing Access to Help), welcomes the effort to add new housing opportunities for the homeless population served by her agency.
"We are in need of innovative ideas in the community for the people who have experienced homelessness for quite some time," said Zangerle, adding the traditional avenues of state and federal funding for housing fall short of what's needed in McLean County.
Ahrens recognizes that people who are without housing often are missing support in other areas, including mental health.
"We have people coming to church here who are looking for a fresh start. There's a guy coming today who's been living in his car," he said.
In the quest to link people with mental health services, Ahrens has seen delays in getting counseling appointments and long waits for hospital emergency rooms.
As the project unfolds, Ahrens plans to add on-site counselors and others who can help homeless residents address the deficits — employment and medical issues — that contribute to people living on the street.
A Mental Health Action Plan released last year by the McLean County Board estimated about 100 more supportive housing beds are needed in the community for homeless people living with a mental illness. Of that number, 54 would be used by the chronically homeless, according to the report. There are about 80 beds available now.
The two local homeless shelters, operated by Salvation Army and Home Sweet Home Mission, house about 150 men, women and children. Some of the daytime visitors to the Market Street church have come from the Salvation Army's warming center that takes in people during the winter months.
Sunday morning collections and rent from people who can pay something for their 30-day stay help cover the expenses; a bus and van also were donated to the church. Ahrens is hoping to attract volunteers with carpentry skills and donated building materials.
Glenda Jackson works as a staff minister, a job that includes kitchen duty and greeting people as they gather for Bible study.
"We've really seen a transformation in some people. The idea is to get them stable. We treat people well — with respect, compassion and dignity — things that are lacking in their lives," said Jackson.
When Mary Ahrens retires soon from her job with Goodwill, she will spend more time helping with her son's ministry. The passion for serving the most vulnerable is a trait that should be passed on, not stifled, she said.
"There is a segment of people that society does not want to touch or be around. We need to take them in and love them like everybody," she said.
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Source: The (Bloomington) Pantagraph, http://bit.ly/1q4uxhd
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Information from: The Pantagraph, http://www.pantagraph.com
This is an AP-Illinois Exchange story offered by The (Bloomington) Pantagraph.
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