Local Ithacan's are familiar with a tucked away piece of land out behind Wegman's grocery store known as "The Jungle". It's essentially a campsite wasteland where the homeless set up primitive shelters and tents to live year round. Depression and drugs are rampant but food is scarce. Last year there were 4 homeless deaths in Ithaca. Efforts have been made in the past to help "clean up" the jungle -people volunteer and go pick up trash and try and make it all somewhat less dumpy. Over the years, those who care for the poor would also visit this tent slum to provide clothing, blankets, food and encouragement. But the Lord inspired a few passionate people to imagine an Ithaca without the jungle -an Ithaca with no homeless!
(Barry is Ithaca ‘old guard’ –legend purports that he used to paddle a kayak across
Cayuga lake every morning to get to work.)
He’s a character for sure; hard to miss with his pants tucked into his
cowboy boots, sporting a bright blue and white Johnny Rocket leather
jacket. He’s pushin’ 60 years old but he
still runs errands on a 750 Suzuki GSR. (he doesn't normally wear a tuxedo though!) We both bought sanders as Barry filled us in
on the latest details of his homeless mission idea.
Some years ago, Barry decided to read and re-read Isaiah
chapter 58 for a whole year. Through
that meditation God burdened him for the poor and he’s been brainstorming ways
to serve the needful ever since. Joining
arms with other concerned and committed Christ followers the idea to provide housing
for a couple of guys has morphed into the audacious dream to completely end
Homelessness in Tompkins county.
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| God provided and Barry mobilized hundreds of volunteers |
Last year there were 4 homeless related deaths in Ithaca. In the fall of this year, Barry purchased two
houses on Court street in downtown Ithaca.
The Syracuse Rescue mission
entered into partnership with him and in December we joined together with other volunteers to begin remodeling the houses and getting them ready for occupants. At the end of the Christmas break, I took
Sophomore Sam Rabkin over to help and he got thoroughly pumped up about the endeavor. He was a huge part of mobilizing our ministry
to continuously serve. Starting during the Christmas break and exinto the spring
semester there were times when Cornell Cru students were serving a couple
nights a week as well as Saturdays. We
did everything from demolition to flooring, from painting to cabinet
installation. Students were learning a
ton.
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Austin and Tom rip up old carpet  |
The home is not the type of shelter where people stop over and spend a single night. It’s much
more of a transition house. A place
where men can live indefinitely, in fellowship, paying reduced rent while
working to get back on their feet. It
was Barry’s desire to make the places look as nice as possible. Even though we were utilizing primarily
volunteer effort, there was a commitment to excellence and quality as we
completely remodeled each and every room.
Barry’s hope was that the quality would help the men to rightly
understand God’s love and that the
aesthetics would help inspire hope for a brighter future. Barry
intends to provide some vocational training for the residents and to facilitate
a Christ-centered community.
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| BEFORE |
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| AFTER |
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BEFORE   |
http://www.rmsyr.org/ithaca-programs/
and
http://courtstreethouse.org/
and
http://www.communityfaithpartners.org/
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