SIOUX CITY -- "If you build it, they will come."
That was what Harold Youtzy discovered when the Sioux City Gospel Mission vacated its former 310 West Eighth Street facilities and moved into its new location at 510 Bluff Street.
"As soon as we opened our doors last year, there's been a steady 50 percent increase in people requesting meals," Youtzy, the mission's executive director, said. "Guess we moved at the right time."
Yet, he adds, the decision to move was not entirely the mission's to make.
In the fall of 2005, the mission was informed that it would have to vacate its West Eighth Street location to make room for Sioux City's new Wesley Parkway extension project.
The following year, the city council agreed to pay the mission $1.1 million to buy their building which served as a shelter for homeless men and an adjacent property which served as a thrift store, pay relocation costs and secure a short-term loan.
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The mission then raised an additional $3.3 million for the $4.5 million project to purchase and remodel the former Salvation Army Community Center. The Bluff Street building would be the site for an administrative offices, a health center, a chapel, sleeping quarters and an expanded food pantry.
The adjacent former Iowa Office Supplies building, located at 605 Wesley Parkway, would then become the new home for the mission's thrift store.
Youtzy said purchasing the Bluff Street property was a good choice.
"Since the mission's Women and Children's Shelter (415 Bluff Street) sits right behind this," he explained, "we will now have a full campus with the possibilities of expanding in the future."
This is a distinct possibility as more people are utilizing the mission's services. In addition to meals, Youtzy said more men are sleeping at the mission (up one-third) and more families are receiving food from it's pantry (now helping more than 80 families).
Does Youtzy attribute these increases to the bad economy?
In some ways, yes, but in other ways, no.
"Certainly, the economy has impacted everyone but word about our new building traveled fast," Youtzy contended. "Our old building had run its course and had seen better days. Even the homeless didn't feel comfortable there anymore."
In the new, well-maintained building, Youtzy is excited about expanding the programs offered by the mission.
"Over the next few months, we will begin a mentoring program, matching up individuals with mentors who have gone through similar situations," he explained. "In conjunction with Western Iowa Tech Community College, we will also begin a program where individuals wanting to receive a GED, learn a trade or go back to school can do so."
Through it all, Youtzy reminds himself of the parable of the Good Samaritan.
"There are times in everybody's lives when we go down the wrong road," he explained. "That doesn't mean we're bad people. Rather, we just made a wrong choice along the way."
