Some shelter tenants forced to give spots to evacuees
By LORI RODRIGUEZ
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
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Tempers ran high Sunday at the Salvation Army's Harbor Light Center on North Main as tenants of the rented portion of the shelter were forced to move to the transient section or leave the facility to make way for Katrina evacuees.
"I'm being kicked out so they can turn around and bring in 18 veterans from New Orleans. How is that fair?" said Sean Schisler, as he packed up his meager belongings.
For nearly six years, Schisler, 39, has paid $225 a month for a bed, a small set of drawers and a locker in a room that houses six tenants. Almost every day, he has walked two blocks to the nearby Food Mart, where he cooks up tacos, tortas and hamburgers for residents of the Near Northside neighborhood.
"This is a homeless shelter. Forcing us out is about as low as you can get," Schisler said.
Harbor Light Assistant Director Larry Bowen denied that anyone was being evicted.
"Arrangements are being made to reshuffle individuals from where they're staying now to another part of the facility," he said.
"We are expecting between 13 to 20 disaster victims who were part of a Veterans Administration drug and recovery program in New Orleans. VA officials want to relocate them, and they also want them to continue to be in a recovery program."
The need for such a program limits the options for veteran evacuees, Bowen said.
Along with housing up to 240 homeless men in bunkbeds in a mass dormitory section, Harbor Light operates a VA recovery program that now includes 48 veterans. It also has a more private, more homey portion for up to 30 men who either work or are on a fixed income.
Tom Parker, 46, has been staying in the rented portion since June after completing the recovery program and getting a job. Parker, a former Enron employee caught in the company's demise, worked for more than 17 years as a consultant for oil giants including Amoco and El Paso Corp. He is trying to get on his feet.
"I start a new professional job in two weeks. I have to wear a suit and tie, be clean and look neat," Parker said. "Moving in the dormitory section with 200 homeless transients sharing the toilets and showers is not a viable alternative."
Bill Olive/Special to the Chronicle
Sean Schisler has to leave his room at the Salvation Army's Harbor Light Center after nearly six years.
Is money behind move?
Schisler, Parker and other affected tenants think Salvation Army officials are moving them out of their beds because the VA pays considerably more for veterans than regular shelter tenants pay.
"This is supposed to be a Christian organization that is not supposed to think about the money. The truth is that it's all about the money," Schisler said.
Bowen said the VA pays $29.18 per veteran per day, which is roughly $900 a month. But he said financial considerations did not play a part in the decision to take in evacuees.
"It's something we would do whether money was involved or not. We have men come in on a daily basis where money doesn't matter. All the transients are welcomed for free," Bowen said.
"We have given our tenants options. We're just hoping our guys in the recovery program, our employees and the men who are renting would step up and help. There's been some sacrifice all the way around because of Katrina.
"The evacuees are people who have nothing. We're just trying to help the best we can. That's what the Salvation Army is all about."
Packing up
After exchanging words with shelter officials Sunday, Schisler left, lugging a large duffel bag and other belongings. He is hoping his Food Mart employers will put him up for a while.
Parker was planning to stay in the transient section for the night. Officials will let him stay for a month rent-free for the inconvenience. After that, he will have to pay $225 a month for the bed.
Both are looking for new permanent homes. But along with other displaced tenants, Schisler and Parker fear they will not be able to find affordable housing because federally subsidized evacuees are swamping the market.
"It's like we're the ones that are getting ransacked by the hurricane," Schisler said.
By LORI RODRIGUEZ
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
HURRICANE KATRINA
NOAA
Hurricane Katrina swirls toward the Gulf Coast.
? Complete Chronicle coverage
Katrina news via RSS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON RELIEF:
? Updated info, resources
? Volunteer Houston's updates
? Joint Command
? Houston Red Cross
? FEMA news releases
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BLOGS:
? Voices of Katrina: Stories from the aftermath
? DomeBlog from the Reliant Astrodome
? In Exile: An evacuee blogs for New Orleans
? Eric Berger's SciGuy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WEBCAST:
? Live coverage from WDSU-TV in New Orleans
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIDEO:
? Monday hurricane update 9/12
? Sunday hurricane update 9/11
? Debit card frustration 9/10
? Lost pets seek homes 9/10
? Officers take weapons 9/10
? Saturday Katrina update 9/10
? Evacuees grow frustrated 9/9
? White House on cards 9/9
? FEMA chief removed 9/9
More videos ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO GALLERIES:
Associated Press:
? Latest images
Houston Chronicle:
? Mom looking for her 18-month-old son 9/10
? La. rescue, recovery 9/9
? Houston responds 9/8
? Displaced students enroll in school 9/7
More galleries ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERACTIVE:
? Victims of Katrina
? New Orleans devastation
? Zoomable satellite image of New Orleans / 8/31
? Hurricane Katrina: Devastation follows storm's path
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IN NEW ORLEANS:
? Nola.com's breaking news blog and Hurricane Center
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GRAPHICS:
? Graphic: Post-Hurricane Biohazards 09/08
? Graphic: Katrina's Economic Impact 09/08
More graphics ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL REPORT:
? The Big One: Is Houston ready?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video, graphics courtesy Associated Press and KHOU; free Real Player, Flash plug-in and Acrobat Reader may be required.)
Tempers ran high Sunday at the Salvation Army's Harbor Light Center on North Main as tenants of the rented portion of the shelter were forced to move to the transient section or leave the facility to make way for Katrina evacuees.
"I'm being kicked out so they can turn around and bring in 18 veterans from New Orleans. How is that fair?" said Sean Schisler, as he packed up his meager belongings.
For nearly six years, Schisler, 39, has paid $225 a month for a bed, a small set of drawers and a locker in a room that houses six tenants. Almost every day, he has walked two blocks to the nearby Food Mart, where he cooks up tacos, tortas and hamburgers for residents of the Near Northside neighborhood.
"This is a homeless shelter. Forcing us out is about as low as you can get," Schisler said.
Harbor Light Assistant Director Larry Bowen denied that anyone was being evicted.
"Arrangements are being made to reshuffle individuals from where they're staying now to another part of the facility," he said.
"We are expecting between 13 to 20 disaster victims who were part of a Veterans Administration drug and recovery program in New Orleans. VA officials want to relocate them, and they also want them to continue to be in a recovery program."
The need for such a program limits the options for veteran evacuees, Bowen said.
Along with housing up to 240 homeless men in bunkbeds in a mass dormitory section, Harbor Light operates a VA recovery program that now includes 48 veterans. It also has a more private, more homey portion for up to 30 men who either work or are on a fixed income.
Tom Parker, 46, has been staying in the rented portion since June after completing the recovery program and getting a job. Parker, a former Enron employee caught in the company's demise, worked for more than 17 years as a consultant for oil giants including Amoco and El Paso Corp. He is trying to get on his feet.
"I start a new professional job in two weeks. I have to wear a suit and tie, be clean and look neat," Parker said. "Moving in the dormitory section with 200 homeless transients sharing the toilets and showers is not a viable alternative."
Bill Olive/Special to the Chronicle
Sean Schisler has to leave his room at the Salvation Army's Harbor Light Center after nearly six years.
Is money behind move?
Schisler, Parker and other affected tenants think Salvation Army officials are moving them out of their beds because the VA pays considerably more for veterans than regular shelter tenants pay.
"This is supposed to be a Christian organization that is not supposed to think about the money. The truth is that it's all about the money," Schisler said.
Bowen said the VA pays $29.18 per veteran per day, which is roughly $900 a month. But he said financial considerations did not play a part in the decision to take in evacuees.
"It's something we would do whether money was involved or not. We have men come in on a daily basis where money doesn't matter. All the transients are welcomed for free," Bowen said.
"We have given our tenants options. We're just hoping our guys in the recovery program, our employees and the men who are renting would step up and help. There's been some sacrifice all the way around because of Katrina.
"The evacuees are people who have nothing. We're just trying to help the best we can. That's what the Salvation Army is all about."
Packing up
After exchanging words with shelter officials Sunday, Schisler left, lugging a large duffel bag and other belongings. He is hoping his Food Mart employers will put him up for a while.
Parker was planning to stay in the transient section for the night. Officials will let him stay for a month rent-free for the inconvenience. After that, he will have to pay $225 a month for the bed.
Both are looking for new permanent homes. But along with other displaced tenants, Schisler and Parker fear they will not be able to find affordable housing because federally subsidized evacuees are swamping the market.
"It's like we're the ones that are getting ransacked by the hurricane," Schisler said.
