By Steve Scauzillo
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune

HACIENDA HEIGHTS, Calif. — For the first time in 19 years, homeless will not find shelter at St. John Vianney Catholic Church this winter.

Delays in processing an insurance claim for a devastating arson fire that destroyed the church's sanctuary have led to the cancellation of the church's homeless shelter, according to church officials.

The service-oriented church at Turnbull Canyon Road and Palm Avenue has participated in the East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless's winter shelter program since its inception, said Carol Lazarovits, the church's outreach coordinator.

The nonprofit Coalition — which rotates the shelter between area churches — has already found another church to take St. John Vianney's slot from Jan. 18 to Feb. 1, Lazarovits said.

"The Coalition wouldn't let that happen," Lazarovitis said of the possibility of leaving the homeless without shelter.

The First Chinese Baptist Church in Walnut will be pinch hitting for St. John Vianney, confirmed Bob McKennon, who works with the Coalition and is a St. John Vianney church member.

The Coalition has booked seven host churches to provide winter shelters - beds, showers and meals - from December to March. The first shelter opens Dec. 1 at St. Christopher's Catholic Church, 629 S. Glendora Ave., in West Covina.

Removing the Hacienda Heights church from the rotation was something Rev. Tim Nichols did not want to see happen.

While some churches may wince at the sight of between 180 and 225 homeless people sleeping in their church hall, Nichols said his congregants will feel strange not seeing them there.

"This decision is painful," Nichols said. "For us to say we will not have a facility open for them (to sleep) is a great loss."

McKennon echoed that sentiment.

"We've been having the homeless here since 1993. It is a big disappointment. It has become an important part of what we do here at the church," he said.

Just a few days before Easter last April, a fire tore through the church, destroying the worship center and badly damaging the rectory. The damage was estimated at $8 million. The church is trying to get the insurance company to provide $600,000 to pay for a temporary structure.

More money is due from the insurance settlement for a permanent structure. But it still won't cover the entire rebuilding cost so church members are also raising funds to make up the difference.

Meanwhile, the effort to build a temporary building to host church services for the next four years has dragged on, Nichols said. Construction of the temporary structure has been postponed until at least February, he said. The church will continue to hold services in the parish hall, which is where the homeless shelter has been housed. Nichols said he could not operate both in the same place, so something had to give.

McKennon said it feels good to see other churches and other organizations helping out, especially since the number of poor and homeless have increased since the recession.

"Churches are showing more interest than ever in wanting to help in this area," he said.

Nichols said the church's food pantry program will continue to operate every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. In the last few years, the number of families provided with free groceries has nearly doubled, going from 200 to 364.

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