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UPDATE: Please note comment from Spencer Hayes, associated with the Cass Community Social Services. He explains the organization's work, beneficiaries and the gyms non-government funding sources. Perhaps a good model for non-government social services which is worthy of our support. But enough of the green-everything, OK?
I’ve only been away from Detroit for a few weeks, and look what those whacky, do-gooder Detroit Libs are up to: Green Gyms for the Homeless. Here’s the short version: Cass Community Social Services agency is going to open gyms for the homeless so they can come in and use the stationary bikes to generate electricity to power a couple of houses. Who on earth would have thought that Motown could top the moronic activities in Park City during the Sundance Festival?
For non-Detroiters, the Cass Community Social Services is located in the Cass Corridor, Detroit’s skid row. Can’t you just imagine it: stationary bikes set up with virtual racing games on their monitors. Of course to keep the homeless of Cass Corridor motivated, the simulated game will have them pedaling along behind a guy in the back of a van, enticing them to to spin faster in exchange for his wares: wine, crack, meth or heroin; whatever substance they choose to abuse.
Maybe it would be cheaper to just buy them all a Wii.
This is even better than midnight basketball.
h/t American Digest
Wacko supreme.
ReplyDeleteOnly in Detroit could someone come up this kind of usless nonsense.
ReplyDeleteI am involved heavily with Cass Community Social Services so I can give a little background information that might lessen some of the semi-hostile comments.
ReplyDeleteThe Green Gym is a very generous name for what was constructed, it is very basic with only your essential equipment including the 10 bikes. All of the money and equipment for the gym was provided via donation, no million dollar spending sprees or taxed dollars from the public.
Cass runs on a mantra of “Fighting Poverty, Creating Opportunity” it is understandable that when you see something like this it might seem like a waste, it’s natural to say why do we need that when these people could be receiving far more essential services.
Cass already provides those services, they house men, women and children that are Detroit’s most “at risk” citizens. This means that they are not just homeless because they didn’t feel like getting a job, it means they can’t get a job. The people at Cass are physically or mentally disabled, many with severe learning disorders or other medical conditions that prohibit them from having the chance to function in regular society. It’s not that riding a bike to stay healthy is more important then food or shelter, Cass offers those as well, it’s the fact that the health aspect is an often overlooked aspect for people that are already overlooked.
Furthermore Cass is the only place in Detroit that tends to men with HIV/Aids, they also have a free clinic. Many shelters sort children and adults, but Cass is one of the few places in the country that allows the mother and children to live in the same place, creating an experience that is not so harsh on the families.
The Green Gym was created as part of their Green Initiatives. Currently they are able to help out the environment, while providing vocational opportunities to men and women that would otherwise be unemployed throughout their lifetime. They turn abandoned tires (A huge problem in what used to be the “Motor City”) into mud mats, they shred documents (Most of the people working their can’t read, so your documents could never be safer!).
Cass follows their mantra by stepping out of the box and creating a lifestyle that is not cut and dry essentials, but actually allows them to lead lives they most likely would have never dreamed of.
The Green Gym was not created so mentally handicapped homeless people could power Cass, it was created because the people at Cass LOVE these types of “events.” The Green Gym will help out the health of the staff, residents and volunteers (It is not a Lifetime Fitness, it’s not open to the public), provide jobs for people that never dreamed of having one and help the environment (Even if the results aren’t extraordinary, every little bit makes a difference).
I can fully understand why this concept may be off putting for some people, why you might think it’s a stupid idea, or that it’s a waste, but if you could come to Cass and see the effect these initiatives have on people who would otherwise be hopeless, I think some of you would change your tune.
I want to thank you for writing this story and I just hope that I might have cleared up some of your questions or skepticism. We appreciate any and all support of Cass Community Social Services because they are dedicated to helping people in Detroit who need it the most!
Peace.
Even before reading Hayes' comments, I was going to post that I didn't think it was a dumb idea. I've been following the adventures of the Capuchin monastery over on Mt. Elliot for a few years and some of the programs that I thought were weird were actually very successful. (Just a few: art therapy for the homeless, urban gardening, and starting a bakery in a back room.)
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your take on it, Spencer Hayes.
Spencer Hayes,
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to respond and explain your organization's objectives, funding and beneficiaries. Clearly you do good work. In fact, you're just the kind of organization that restores hope that government doesn't have to do everything for everybody.
Thanks again for your input.