A Thanksgiving for Rohnert Park's Homeless

A new initiative aimed at providing safety net services for Rohnert Park's homeless is gaining momentum: On Tuesday, about 20 people who live on the streets here gathered at Rohnert Park Assembly of God on Snyder Lane for an early Thanksgiving dinner.

And, while the homeless dined on all the traditional trimmings — turkey, ham, cranberries and pumpkin pie — a larger conversation took place about how to provide critical services for the homeless.

"It's about providing basic services — a quick meal if they're hungry or a hot cup of coffee, a place to get their mail, a place to go to get out of the weather for a few hours, to get a shower and maybe do their laundry," said Pastor Chip Worthington, who helps run the organization spearheading the homeless outreach efforts, called "Neighbors Who Care."

Worthington and Tom Meier, a member at Church of the Oaks in Cotati, founded the orgaization in September. So far, they're feeding the homeless every Tuesday in Rohnert Park.

"We pick the people up, and have a lunch every Tuesday," Worthington said. "No one on the streets will go hungry or cold during the holidays. We're doing what we can."

Worthington asserted that the city "lacks the political will" to provide basic services for the city's shelterless — which at last count was — a 40 percent increase from last year.

However, according interviews with dozens of homeless people, outreach organizers and Public Safety Chief Brian Masterson, it's more likely between 20 and 30 people are actually living on the streets here.

"There's no reason the city can't do more for these people," Worthington said.

Elected officials countered, underlining that the aimed at helping the homeless, including Neighbors Organized Against Hunger, Sonoma County Adult and Youth Development and the Committee on the Shelterless.

"We're very active in homeless outreach," said Mayor Gina Belforte.

Belforte pointed out that , who is now the city's economic development manager, works with transitional housing advocates here, in addition to the funding the city provides.

Councilwoman Pam Stafford said the City Council "continues to do everything we can," from offering up space at the former Southwest Fire Station for NOAH, to giving funding to Rev. Sam Tharpe's .

Meanwhile, Masterson said the Department of Public Safety wants to work with the homeless.

At Tuesday's Thanksgiving dinner, Masterson sat and ate with them to talk about what problems they've experienced, what needs should be addressed and what role the police play.

"It's about public safety first," Masterson said. "But we're a small community, and these people are a part of it too. This is a difficult part of society — homeless people make others uncomfortable, and we get calls about that. But we are tolerant to a point, and we want to work with them."

Masterson said he talked to people about whether or not they felt they were being treated fairly by police, about panhandling and how the department could work with the homeless to improve public safety.

"There's no law against being homeless; they're allowed to panhandle within certain places," he added. "They're doing this because they're thinking 'where am I going to eat, where am I going to sleep. That's a decision that not many of us have to make.'"

Marilyn Steveley, 54, is homeless. She sleeps in a tent near one of the city's three regular encampments with her Jack Russel Terrier, named Jackie.

Now, with the help of "Neighbors Who Care," she has warm winter boots, a place to take a shower once a week and the security of knowing that she'll be able to get a good meal on Tuesdays.

"Being homeless is the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but I have to survive," she said at Tuesday's Thanksgiving dinner. "Chip found me on the street, and took me to the luncheon. I'm very thankful."

Steveley said the organization has given her a $30 gift card Mary's Pizza Shack, a place to shower and what's sometimes more important — company.

Shawn Ford, 51, who is also homeless, agreed.

"This is wonderful — it's the first Thanksgiving dinner I've had in 15 years," he said, with a slice of coffee cake in hand, mouth half full of food. He was talking to Patti Blomendahl, a member of the Church of the Oaks who is also on the "Neighbors Who Care" executive committee.

She's the one who cooked the dinner Tuesday.

"I love doing it, it's so fulfilling," Blomendahl said as she mixed up batter for a fresh batch of biscuits. "It's the meal that they are so appreciative, but even more, it's the human interaction, the fact that someone is stopping and paying attention to them."

Sometimes all it takes is a sandwich, she said.

"There's so little here for them," Blomendahl added. "They don't necessarily want a shelter, but just somewhere to get out of the cold, to clean up and maybe wash their clothes. These are basic human needs."

More about Neighbors Who Care: The homeless outreach organization was created by a joint effort between the Rohnert Park Assembly of God and the Church of the Oaks. They are slowly building a system to offer the homeless regular meals, holiday celebrations and other necessities such as shoes and sleeping bags. Local organizations donated to the Thanksgiving dinner, including Oliver's, who donated the turkey, the Rohnert Park Chorale and Raley's.

Organizers are seeking community donations. If you can help in any way, please call 707-584-5673. Donations can me sent to Rohnert Park Assembly of God, 4695 Snyder Ln. All donations go directly to the homeless.