WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By John F. Bailey. November 12, 2007: The White Plains clergy to date have been unable to establish a “Warming Center” after  representatives of the clergy, Rabbi Lester Bronstein of Temple Bet Am Shalom and the Reverend Carter Via requested a meeting with the city November 1, and were advised by the city they could. Reverend Via has issued a statement on the situation November 7 on the efforts, and The Presbyterian Chuch has furnished it to the CitizeNetReporter:

On November 1,  Rabbi Bronstein expressed the clergy's interest in establishing a Warming Center at one of three churches in the White Plains downtown. The city was in agreement that the clergy could establish a shelter with a Special Permit (that would be expedited by the Common Council though two members of the Council were concerned about location), depending what church it would host the Warming Center.

As of today, the clergy has not reported  any movement on where that shelter would be. The County has given its blessing to the project.  At the November 1 meeting at City Hall, the clergy made it clear that the Warming Center would have to be funded by the county for providing the service, and the clergy had expressed the requirement that the county would have to staff it.

The last two nights, November 10 and 11 have  been a harbinger of the cold nights to come in White Plains with bone dry cold temperatures in the low 30s. Friday evening, November 9, rains forced the homeless to find overhangs to avoid the cold and exposure.

Rabbi Bronstein is away from White Plains and has not been able to comment on the progress towards establishing a warming center. The Presbyterian Chuch has issued this statement from Reverend Carter Via, issued November 7 in response to a call from WPCNR:

I do not pretend to speak for the White Plains clergy as a collective body.

But here is ‘where I believe we are’ in the face of this immediate challenge/opportunity.

n  We simply want a “safety net” option for those homeless persons, who are currently outside of the “system”

n  In other words, we want an overnight shelter option in White Plains for those homeless persons who cannot, or will not, participate in the primary shelter system

n  This option must have cots and bathrooms at an absolute minimum – not just chairs.

Why do we want this option?  First, the option must exist so that homeless persons do not die of exposure in the cold of winter.  Second, the option (with cots) is the only humane option for human beings who need rest to function.

We are aware of the complex political situation about which we can do very little.  Our deepest and most sincere hope is to collaborate with both the County and the City to come to some resolution.  If this is not possible, we will continue to press forward for some resolution … because in the end, it’s an issue of conscience.