PROPOSAL FOR PEACE HOUSE HOMELESS DAY CENTER NAGOYA, JAPAN

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1 PROPOSAL FOR PEACE HOUSE HOMELESS DAY CENTER NAGOYA, JAPAN BISHOP DANIEL J. REA YAMAZOE CHO #302 CHIKUSA KU NAGOYA

2 PEACE HOUSE PROPOSAL Mission Peace House will provide a solution to the homelessness in Nagoya. We will not merely address symptoms by helping the homeless. Our mission is to provide a day center in which the homeless can eat meals, shower, wash clothes, and learn life skills that will move them from homelessness to independence. Thus giving the homeless peace in their lives. We are a private cooperative of churches, NPOs, and individuals. Core Value Peace is rooted in stewardship. Stewards of gifts create peace by being honest in all operations, and having integrity in all that is undertaken. Stewardship is the first sign of character and it flows from the top to bottom of an organization. Stewardship is the core value we will not compromise. Research Accumen Estimates of homelessness range from 500 by City of Nagoya numbers to as high as 3500 by Caritas of Japan numbers. It is difficult to gain an accurate census of Nagoya's homeless population due to the transient nature of homelessness. Homeless people that Bishop Rea has spoken with personally attest to the fact that the homeless in Nagoya need a day center in which they may eat meals, shower/bathe, do laundry and seek shelter from inclement weather. Nagoya currently has no day center nor shelter for the homeless. This forces the homeless to seek shelter in the elements under highway overpasses, parks, train stations and on the sidewalks. Organizations in Nagoya currently address homeless symptoms by feeding the homeless, giving the homeless clothing, and so forth. While the intent is noble and good, it also perpetuates the homelessness by making the homeless dependent upon help, and not teaching the homeless to be independent. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City have no homeless centers or shelters. In August 2004, Nagoya City opened a homeless shelter that was meant to be temporary. This shelter only offered help to Naka Ku and Nakamura Ku homeless for six months of help. The shelter closed in September 2005 after the Aichi Expo ended. Hardly any homeless made the transition to independence. The main problem was that the shelter was too steeped in bureaucracy with government interests conflicting with the interests of businesses and nonprofits offering aid to the shelter. With no consistent programs, the homeless fared with little real programs to transition them from homelessness. Area churches remained an unapproached asset to the City of Nagoya. The idea was that government could best address the problem of homelessness than churches and organizations that regularly help the homeless. Government workers with no

3 experience working with the homeless were placed in leadership roles. These leaders refused advice from people volunteering with experience working with the homeless. Government in Nagoya proved at best ineffective and at worse incompetent to solve the homeless crisis of Nagoya. The homeless population has grown due to the current economic woes and funding being diverted to the prefectures hit by the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. Peace House will be directed by Bishop Daniel Rea of the Christian Church of Japan. All operation will be under his responsibility. Donations will be used as need demands. A board of directors will be formed as needed to assure smooth operation of Peace House. Already area churches and members have shown interest in the idea of moving the homeless to independence rather than just addressing and serving their symptoms. The need is to work to end homelessness by making the homeless self reliant. Peace House is in infancy. There needs to be financial funding, securing a site, putting together a board of directors and so forth. Success will depend on Bishop Rea being dedicated to the work at hand and staying the course in faith to God's call to end homelessness in Nagoya. Area churches will be the very backbone of Peace House. Bishop Rea has over 20 years of working with the homeless in Dallas, TX and Dubuque, IA. Problem The problem is not just homelessness in Nagoya. The root of the problem is that merely addressing the symtoms of homelessness like hunger, lack of clothing, water, and so forth perpetuates homelessness by making the homeless dependent upon help. The Dallas Life Foundation in Dallas, TX under the leadership of Rev. Bailey from 1977 to 2001 created a solution that has worked, building the self esteem and self worth of the homeless by making them independent. This has been termed the Rescue Mission Approach to operating day centers and shelters for the homeless. It is rooted in the Apostle Paul's admonition in his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 2 Thess.3:10 (KJV) This means not just feeding, caring for, and sheltering the homlesss. This system builds independence in the homeless by having them work for their help. The homeless cook the meals, clean the floors, wash the dishes, and maintain the building. This leads to growing a day center to a full service shelter by the homeless performing the work. This creates self reliance. Government lack of support for homeless programs is another problem. This means nonprofit organizations and churches must be the life blood of homeless outreach. Day centers in the USA, Canada, Europe, and the rest of Asia have been highly successful when NPO and churches form an alliance.

4 Solution The Rescue Mission Approach not only addresses symptoms of homelessness, but gives a solution to homelessness. After time the self worth of the homeless erodes. This causes the homeless to feel there is no hope for their situation. This leads the homeless to addictions of alcohol, drugs, gambling, and is what leads to suicide in the homeless. By having the homeless perform duties of cooking, cleaning, and maintaining the day center it creates self esteem and self reliance in the homeless. This system of running day centers is also cost effective. Rescue Mission operation reduces the need for paid staff and helps grow a day center into a full service shelter quickly and efficiently. There is the criticism by some that this system uses the homeless as free labor. This is unwarranted. The homeless should earn what they receive. Otherwise they are being locked into depending upon the help they receive. Our Puritan tradition began the idea, Give a person a fish and they eat one meal. Show them to fish and they eat for a lifetime. The Rescue Mission Approach is the Christian standard of this idea. Again, the Apostle Paul advised the Thessalonians of the same. Programs are set up to set the homeless up for success. Job boards stay maintained with jobs offered by those needing immediate workers such as day labor. Life skills are taught that focus on moving the homeless to independence rather than putting the homeless in front of televisions to idle their time by until the next meal is served. This also keeps their minds active and off cravings for addictions. There is the reality that some homeless will refuse to work. That is the reality of free will, some people cannot be reached. No matter how much for their own benefit some people will refuse to cooperate with just authority. All that can be done for such people is pray for their conversion and leave them to the care of God. Our focus must be on moving those to independence who accept to do so. Criticisms and Answers After talking with local expats and Japanese people, including the homeless, around Nagoya, Bishop Rea has compiled their criticisms and gives answers to them. How will you procure the financial resources? Local churches are far more trustworthy than government loans. Private businesses usually have a motive for PR behind their donating. Private citizaens are more receptive than either government or business. With an outreach to local NPOs already helping the homeless what is needed is a cooperative of churches, NPOs, and citizens. This is why Bishop Rea is reaching out to the churches, private citizens, and NPOs. In the Puritan tradition, community building is needed before any effort can be honestly successful. Bishop Rea is wanting to build a community of churches, citizens, and NPOs to open and operate Peace House. Realestate sites are too expensive. Local realestate companies have on the market sites now that could accommodate

5 Peace House. In fact many of them have been on the market for more than a year. With the combination of realestate slump and downturn of economy, realestste companies are willing to negoatiate now more than ever to get sites occupied and rent collected. The community, including churches, in Nagoya will not support this. This is not true and is unfounded. There has been no effort on the part of churches and NPOs to open a day center or shelter for the homeless. In fact many churches have not even addressed homelessness in Nagoya for the fact they do not know there is a problem of homelessness in Nagoya. NPOs have addressed some symptoms by feeding the homeless in Shirakawa Park but there has been no effort to open a day center or shelter as of yet. Peace House is first building a community of churches and NPOs with private citizens. Will this just be another NPO helping the homeless? No, Peace House will not be another nonprofit. In the Puritan tradition, Peace House will operate as a private entity. Donations will be collected and taxes paid on them as income. Property taxes will be paid on the site. This keeps any and all government control out of the operation of Peace House. The government of Nagoya with Aichi Prefecture proved themselves too mired in bureaucracy operating the temporary homeless shelter during the Aichi Expo to be effective or trustworthy partners in an endeavor like Peace House. The homeless will not be willing to work for their help. This is a continual stereotype unpon the homeless. The homeless are too lazy to even work for their help that is why they are homeless. This is not only an embellishment it shows the lack of compassion the people who say this possess. Some homeless will not work, but the reality is that free will implies Peace House gives people the opportunity. Some will refuse and this simply shows the fact that not all people can be reached. Jesus had the same problem in His ministry. The Apostles had the same problem as well. Peace House understands not every person can be reached, but that does not mean simply quitting the effort because of this. The blessings far out weigh quitting on negativity. There are already groups helping the homeless. True, but again they are addresssing symptoms. They are feeding the homeless, giving them clothing, providing water and tea. No group is providing a solution to homelessness. It cannot be stressed too much, Bishop Rea is offering a solution to break homelessness with making the homeless independent. Peace House will implement the Rescue Mission Approach that builds self esteem and creates self worth thus moving the homeless from dependency to independence. Peace House is simply implementing the proven methods of the Protestant-Puritan work ethic that Work makes the person free. A day center means the homeless will have to leave at closing, where will they go? Things must progress one step at a time. Puritan minister Cotton Mather always used a saying, If one begins wrong then their effort ends wrong. Peace House must first build a community of churches, citizens, and NPOs that support the effort. Then Peace House can begin to get started. Peace House begins as a day center then grows gradually to a homeless shelter. Peace House must prove its worth first. The

6 homeless will have the benefit of day center of which there is none now. Conclusion Stewardship is a fiduciary trust of donors that Peace House uses to the maximum their financial, material, or personal gifts. Stewardship is a fiduciary trust to the homeless that Peace House will transform them from depedndency to independence thus breaking their struggle in homelessness. Peace House offers the homeless the opportunity to regain control of their life and future. Stewardship is rooted in the Christian principle of working for what one receives for all we have and offer is a gift from God. Peace House shall operate on the Rescue Mission Approach for this approach untilizes to the maximum stewardship and best holds the fiduciary trust of donors and homeless. The Rescue Mission Approach acknowledges God as the source of all blessings and for this reason the primary fiducuary trust is between Peace House and God. Peace House shall maximize stewardship and reduce the need for paid staff in the kitchen, for custodians, for maintenance, and for care givers. The only paid staff is to be Bishop Rea as director, an assistant director, and counselors. The need to pay a chaplain is not needed because Bishop Rea shall be director. Peace House shall operate by the proven method of the Recuse Mission Approach. The homeless shall cook the meals, clean the dining area, wash the dishes, and then be allowed to utilize the showers, laundry, and rest area. This approach has proven to be best for stewardship of gifts. Stewardship is the basis of character for the leadership of any organization. Stewardship preserves the fiduciary trust given to leadership. Peace is a gift of the Holy Spirit that flows from stewardship. Peace is walking in Christ's love, loving what is right, and seeking justice for all God's children.

7 Plan Short Term Peace House must first procure financing, a site, reform the site to needs, open and begin operation. Contacts in the realestate and other business will be needed. Furnishings and equipment can be found in all large sized recycle shops. It must be clear Peace House will not begin as a shelter. Peace House is a day center for the homeless. Hours will be from 7 am to 6 pm, seven days a week. The services offered are meals, shower, restroom, laundry, and relaxation for those who help cook, clean, and maintain the building. Others will only be offered a meal. Success will depend upon cotinued support of donors and the dedication of staff and volunteers. Only when Peace House is able to have a core of committed churches, NPOs, and private citizens who support the work of Peace House, and believe in the mission can Peace House move into the next phase. Midterm Peace House in three to five years should be able to prepare to become a small to medium sized shelter. The shelter should have a kitchen, dining room, chapel, office, ample storage, segregated sleeping accomodations for men and women, showers, onsite counselors, and limited medical/dental care. Those who cook, clean, maintain the building, work security, and do light clerical duties will have access to full benefits. Others will only have access to meals. The transition should be to move into a facility prepared by remodel of an existing site or if donation is generous, a new site to suit needs. A thrift shop to help defray costs can be operated on site. There should now be a strong core of support where in five years Peace House can move into the long term. Long Term Peace House will be a complete homeless care center that can provide day service and sleep homeless by those who live in a six month program segregated by men and women to become independent and those homeless who wish to remain on their own and stay over night. Imagine a large apartment complex, this is the scope of operation. Full services of meals, shower, laundry, medical/dental, thrift store, and so forth as any large shelter in a city the size of Nagoya needs. Those who cook, clean, maintain the building, work security, and do light clerical duties will have access to full benefits. Others will only have access to meals.

8 Financial Analysis Site 90,000 to 150,000 per month Remodel to suit needs 300,000 to 500,000 Equipment 200,000 to begin operation Furnishings 200,000 to begin operation Food and Misc 80,000 per month Utilities Combined 50,000 to 85,000 per month Salaries (Est. Based upon industry average) 500,000 per month Opening Expense 1,350,000 Monthly Expense 750,000 All figures are estimated and based upon current realestate pricing, without discounts offered, and no immediate negotiation.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so