Bakersfield.com

BY DAN GORMAN
Mission executive director

The Bakersfield Rescue Mission, which recently announced its first-ever limit on space for homeless males to 110 beds, wants to keep space open for an extra 40 men.

This means the Mission would provide its full range of “crisis intervention services” to a total capped number of 150 homeless men.  The numbers of men in short-term “crisis intervention” at the Mission has been as high as 250.

In addition, the number of men and women in the Mission's separate, one-year “Christian Discipleship Program” has been capped at 70.  This brings the Mission's total numbers to 180 with the new cap---or 220 if 40 extra spaces can be added.  Either total makes the Mission the city's largest provider of shelter for the homeless.

The Mission's cap on its number -- unprecedented in its 57-year history of service to this community -- became necessary due to the ever-increasing costs of serving unlimited numbers of men. The rising costs of services for the growing numbers of homeless men simply out-paced donations for operational expenses that enable the Mission to provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

However, if the Mission can find sources for a modest infusion of extra funding for operating costs, it will be possible to raise its numbers by 40 beds. That increase of bed space would be a significant help for our city's population of homeless males.

The Mission's executive director, Dan Gorman, is ready to answer any questions about what can be done to help the Mission raise its newly capped numbers.

Gorman says two questions yet to be asked about the Mission's realignment are:

“How has the Mission been able to provide its service around the clock for unlimited numbers for so many years without resorting to the policy of capped numbers already in place for most other similar programs? How has the Mission been able to do so with a far lower level of government funding than the government funding given to other similar local programs even though it serves the greatest numbers?”

Gorman says, “The Mission was never intended to be Kern County's primary program of services for an unlimited number of homeless men. Even so, the Mission has gladly filled this role for many years as its Christ-honoring service to our city. However, given today's economy, the Mission can no longer carry this load mainly on its own shoulders without help from all those concerned about the homeless in our midst.”

Contact: Dan Gorman 472-5748