ROCHESTER – A downtown church is taking matters into its own hands by putting a portable toilet outside its building after people began using its property as a bathroom.
First Universalist Church Congregation President Michael Scott said homeless people have been sleeping in the covered alcoves in front of the church for years and had no place to use the restroom overnight.
“About a year ago, we started having problems with human waste showing up on our property,” Scott said. “People would hide behind a corner and go because they had to,”
The church said it’s an issue the city can solve by opening its public restrooms 24 hours. The city responded by pointing to public restrooms at Parcel 5, which are open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.
“We’ve been lobbying for several years in partnership with Saint Mary’s across Washington Square and with various other downtown congregations to get restroom facilities available 24/7,” Scott said.
Church member Elizabeth Osta said the restrooms are a vital human need.
“They have no choices,” Osta said. “So that’s why our little porta-potty is only a Band-Aid, as Reverend Eileen said. It’s a big need in the city. Huge need.”
The church members spoke during an event where breakfast and clothing were provided for people in need. Homeless outreach teams from the House of Mercy, Rochester Police Department and other community partners were also there to help.
One man outside the church said people with drug addictions could take advantage of overnight restrooms, but he said the benefits outweigh the risks.
“The risk for that is probably a lot less than the necessity for people who are on the street to use the bathroom,” Caleb Amir said. “So I think it’s a great idea.”
The church has had the portable toilet on its property for more than a month. Michael Scott said having it available around the clock is part of the church’s mission to help those in need.
The portable toilet will remain on church property temporarily, with the church board that controls its budget deciding how long it will stay.
Rochester church installs portable toilet after it says homeless people had nowhere to use the restroom overnight WHEC.com.
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