Shelter at St. Catherine’s comes under fire

A shelter occupying a former convent at St. Catherine of Sienna Roman Catholic Church in Franklin Square found itself on the firing line again last week, when the Town of Hempstead issued summonses to the facility’s operator, Broken But Not Destroyed Corp. (BBND), charging a range of violations, from over-occupancy to improper zoning.

The move is the latest in a round of disputes between BBND; the landlord, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre; and local residents that dates to last fall, when previous efforts to establish a shelter for single mothers and their children first came to a head.

In recent court appearances, judges ruled that the residence was covered by the same permits that allowed the diocese to operate the facility as a convent, and that, because it is a state-certified facility, no local permits or variances were needed. The facility opened for residents in April.

In a May 1 letter, however, the diocese informed BBND of its intention to void the lease and take whatever measures were necessary “to ensure safe and legal use of parish property and grounds.”

Complaints have ranged from inadequate grass for the children to play on to over-crowding, according to BBND Director Kayde Austin-Thompson. “We invited the Town of Hempstead to tour the facility so they could feel comfortable,” she said. “We have nothing to hide. Even though we weren’t required to let them in, we wanted everyone to see that it’s safe.” Instead, the town used the tour as an excuse to cite the shelter for alleged violations, she said.

BBND representatives were in court on July 11 for mediation and will return in September to address the issues raised by the town.

Local residents have been particularly vocal in their opposition. “They said it was going to be just a few families,” said one, who requested anonymity, of last fall’s struggles. “But it was 146 people. I wasn’t against them coming, but they weren’t honest about how many it would be.”

Austin-Thompson countered that, because it is an emergency shelter, the number of women and children fluctuates. But it is rarely exceeds more than a dozen single mothers with children and a few single females. At capacity, the former convent can accommodate 16 mothers and their children, she said.

At one point, local residents alleged that men were living in the shelter when they saw male staff members, including the facility’s cook, entering the facility, Austin-Thompson said. And a vehicle belonging to BBND was allegedly vandalized by a St. Catherine’s parishioner, who ransacked the vehicle, which was parked in the shelter's dedicated lot. A video showed a man allegedly taking documents and cash from the glove box, she said.

St. Catherine’s pastor, Msgr. Richard Figliozzi, who also serves as the administrator of the parish of St. Vincent de Paul in Elmont, originally supported leasing the convent to BBND. “He’s the one who reached out to us last June,” Austin-Thompson said. With the diocese as both the ultimate landlord and Figliozzi's boss, “I know he’s in a bind, she added.

BBND has continued to pay rent and maintain the facility throughout its struggle with the diocese, Austin-Thompson said — even during the months when the facility stood vacant because of the dispute. “We paid thousands of dollars out of own pockets.”