New Life minister, Springfield clash over services for homeless

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Springfield officials have threatened to close one homeless shelter because of neighbors' complaints and possible building code violations, even as they search for ways to help the city's growing homeless population.

City attorney Dan Wichmer recently sent a letter to the Rev. Larry Rice asking him not to use a veterans center as an overnight shelter, kitchen or free store. Neighbors have complained about the activities of some people at the center, and the area is zoned only for business use, Wichmer said.

The center could be closed for up to a year if it became a nuisance, he said.

Rice founded the New Evangelistic Center, which includes a store where people can get secondhand goods for free. He opened the veterans center last year. It provides computers, counseling and training for the homeless, he said.

Rice recently won a re-evaluation of his application to turn the Broadway federal building in Cape Girardeau into a homeless shelter.

The Springfield News-Leader reported Wednesday that Rice and about 20 homeless people marched to city hall to protest Wichmer's letter.

With existing shelters overflowing, city officials have already been looking at ways to help the growing homeless population. The city council Monday night approved a resolution changing zoning regulations to allow churches and other facilities to provide homeless shelters until May 1.

Wichmer met briefly with the protesters Tuesday but left after accusing Rice of trying to grandstand. Later, the city distributed an e-mail listing 17 police reports of incidents at or near the Veterans Home Center this year.

Steve Garner, of the law firm Garner Strong Bauer, said he complained to city officials.

"It's not anti-veterans. It's not anti-homeless," Garner said, noting he regularly sees people drinking nearby and some people have come into his office to ask for money. "My issue is my employees' safety."

Rice said he wasn't aware of the city's efforts to find more homeless housing and would like to help.

"We are saying we are available," Rice told the group Tuesday. "But they are sending us a letter warning us that, if we do what they are telling all the churches they can do, they are going to shut us down during the day. I find that appalling."

Wichmer said Rice has consistently ignored warnings the center does not meet safety and building codes.

"You're the only shelter that seems to have a pattern of these issues," Wichmer said. "Your office asked us a year ago to notify them if we [heard] any complaints, which we did."

Rice responded to Wichmer with a letter calling the complaints unsubstantiated. The center has a bathroom and does not permit drinking, he said.

Rice said he sent Wichmer's letter to New Life's attorneys, both in Missouri and in Washington, and asked them to ensure his efforts to help the homeless are not "hindered in any way by local interests that consider the homeless a public nuisance because they are poor and powerless."