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For over 30 years, the Zion Shelter and Kitchen has been located in the basement of the Metropolitan AME Zion Church at 114 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive;  however, due to unforeseen circumstances, the shelter has been forced to move.

The issue arose in January when it came time for the church to renew its insurance policy. “First, people need to understand that the Zion Shelter and Kitchen and the church are not connected, as they have been renting space in our basement for many years,” said Reverend Dr. Darnell Matthews, Pastor of Metropolitan AME Zion Church. “When it came time to renew our insurance policy in January, it was turned down. We then went to several other companies, including the one that the shelter uses, and were turned down by all of them. When I reached out a second time to find out why, I was told it was because of the shelter, as companies were revamping what they would and would not cover.”

Matthews said insurance is not an option as it is mandated by church law. “In late spring, with the pending hurricane season fast approaching, it became imperative that we needed to do something,” said Matthews. “So, at the beginning of May, we gave the shelter two months to be out of the basement, so we could get our insurance renewed. It is unfortunate that it came down to this, as we had been trying to accommodate them while they were trying to find another place, but our hands were tied. We will do what we can as a church to support their efforts.”

Reverend James Moore, CEO of Metropolitan Housing & CDC, was quick to point out that just because the shelter was closed at the church, they will continue to serve the homeless men’s population in the city. “First, we have no animosity toward the church,” said Moore. “We have been in the transitional process for the last few months, moving towards an employment and resident-assisted program. So we will no longer be serving as a men’s shelter, but in the long run, we feel our programmatic approach will be much better served by those in need.”

Those wishing to enter the program will be thoroughly vetted in the beginning by Darwin Woolard, head case worker for Zion. If they pass the drug test along with other criteria, they will be admitted into the program, given that there is available living space for them. Should there be no available space, there will still be assistance available in helping them find employment. “Let me be clear about the living accommodations,” said Moore. “This is not a shelter but subsidized housing. Metropolitan Housing and Metropolitan Property Management have allocated eight of their units for use by the men. Those eight units are being subsidized by the Zion Shelter and Kitchen Board. Individuals staying in the units will be required to sign a lease and pay a monthly rent.”

For the first 30 days, residents will not be required to pay. That cost of $100 will be covered by the Oneness Initiative, a nonprofit that encompasses a collection of ministries and partnering businesses in the area. Moving forward, the residents will be asked to pay $100 per month, and the remainder of the month’s rental expenses will be subsidized by the Zion Shelter and Soup Kitchen board. “Once the men enter the program, it will be boots on the ground running, said Moore. “We will assist them with finding a job,” said Moore. “Typically, that happens within the first week, as we are connected with a lot of temp agencies. Our goal is to have them in and out of the program within six months, with the goal of getting them to where they are self-sustainable. Depending on their income level after six months, they may need to continue with subsidized housing, which we will help them find, or hopefully be making enough to live wherever they want. And once they leave the program, they will be compensated the full $600. We are saving that money for them so when they leave the program, they will have funds for a security deposit, or perhaps their first month’s rent.”

Moore also wanted to point out that those not accepted into the program, for whatever reason, are not just turned away. “If they need drug or alcohol treatment, we will find them the help they need,” said Moore. “We will continue to work with Agape, which will provide wrap-around services, such as behavioral health, if needed. It’s their choice, but we will be there to get them pointed in the right direction. And if they do get things turned around, they are welcome to reapply for the program.”

In lieu of the soup kitchen closing at the church, temporary arrangements have been made. Food will be prepared at the Alpha Life Enrichment Center and transported to the City Market at 6th and Market, beginning on Monday, June 30, and continuing daily, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. “We are currently working out plans for a more permanent soup kitchen of sorts, and hope to have something in place in the next four to six weeks,” said Moore.

In the meantime, the waiting game continues concerning the appeal of the decision by the Washington Board of Adjustments to decline a special use permit to locate a new men’s shelter and kitchen adjacent to Kingdom Distributors at the intersection of E. 4th and McNair Street. “The time has actually been a blessing as it has given us time to fortify and improve upon our current programming,” said Moore. “We feel confident that once a judge with an unbiased eye looks at all of the documentation, he or she will rule in our favor.”