Counting Blessings
Bozeman Gets a Homeless Shelter
By David Nolt, 11-21-07
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| Above: A patron of the HIS Soup mobile kitchen enjoys a hot cup of coffee on a cold Bozeman afternoon. Below: The Rev. Paul Thomas. photos by David Nolt | |
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For over seven years, Rev. Paul Thomas has tirelessly provided Bozeman’s homeless and down-and-out with a meal, a cup of coffee, clothing, company and any other kind of help he can through his mobile soup kitchen named HIS Soup. Thomas’ white Econoline van and those who flock to it are fixtures on the east and north parts of a town that has never had an official homeless shelter or mission. This month Thomas received a permit to create a historic rescue mission in the very same place he serves his complimentary home-cooked Thanksgiving meals.
Not so long ago, Bozeman police used to “float” homeless residents and transients by buying them a ticket on the next Greyhound out of town. City officials say they haven’t floated anyone for many years, but when a homeless man froze to death in a U-haul truck here last winter, the homeless issue became hard to ignore and elicited a strong community response.
Bozeman, “the most livable place,” is the only major city in Montana to not have a homeless shelter or rescue mission, but thanks to Thomas and his supporters, this is about to change.
“People keep calling it my shelter and it’s not,” Thomas says. “First it’s God’s and then the people we’re serving.”
The site for the new shelter is a run-down house on South Fifth Avenue, but on December 3, 2007 the property will begin to receive a major makeover by members of the Southwest Montana Building Industry Association (SWMBIA). The Bozeman-based organization will enlist a host of volunteer builders to completely renovate the existing house including landscaping and the sewage system. Evans says the organization has a strong community service history and was looking to do something for the holidays. Evans and Thomas had talked about collaborating before, and the opportunity to work together on a rescue mission seemed a perfect fit.
“Someone needed some help and we were happy to step forward,” Evans explains. “We think it’s a positive thing for the community.”
Evans says SWMBIA received close to $100,000 in donations within a very short time of announcing the project and the organization plans to use the collective resources to create a commercial-grade building out of the dilapidated abode. Thomas and Evans aren’t giving dates except to say they won’t be able to get the renovation finished by Christmas, but do hope for early 2008.
Thomas emphasizes HIS Soup Rescue Mission will not be for everybody because it is not simply a shelter for the homeless. Thomas calls it a “Christ-centered” mission, which will focus on helping people find a home and work if they want. Thomas will offer laundry and shower services as well as meals to anyone who needs them at the mission. He also plans to continue HIS Soup van service two hours per day.
Though the city only granted a temporary special-use permit, Bozeman Planning Director Andy Epple is quoted in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle saying the site “seems to be about as appropriate a location as you could find in this community.”
On a cold afternoon this week after Bozeman’s first major snowfall, about ten people gather with Thomas and his van parked near K-Mart. Hot cups of coffee are a sipped and as the Reverend reaches into his van to get someone a meal, a fragrant explosion of warm steam dissipates into the icy air.
When conversation turns to Thanksgiving, Thomas says he looks forward to cooking “all traditions” of the Thanksgiving feast at the end of Hemlock Street close to where the mission will be. When asked what he is thankful for, Thomas has a simple response: “I’m thankful for everything every day.”
Among those eating at HIS Soup van, there is a consensus that the homeless shelter is badly needed, and people are very thankful for what will be the HIS Soup Rescue Mission.
“I’m thankful that Paul is finally getting this mission,” Heather says. “I see all these people and think about what I’m going through—I can’t imagine…being homeless again.”
Jeff was homeless for 20 years, and he says—with help from Thomas—he now has a home and a job.
“I’ve eaten so many of Paul’s meals I got tired of them,” Jeff jokes.
Another man, John, says he is more fortunate than most because he has a school bus and a propane heater. He plans to eat a Thanksgiving meal with Rev. Thomas, a man he is thankful for.
“I’m just thankful to be alive and have people like Paul doing this type of stuff,” John says, adding, “and just being in Montana.”
Encouraging words on the first frigid day of a Montana winter.
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