While waiting quietly out front for a friend who w...

While waiting quietly out front for a friend who was meeting with a caseworker inside the mission, a maintenance (?) person sweeping the sidewalk, asked, rhetorically to the 5-6 people waiting out front, "You know you're not supposed to be out here, right?" I am disabled and cannot stand for extended periods of time, so I was leaning up against a low wallI. I didn't answer him, nor did anyone else. Then he said directly to me, "Are you deaf too?" I was stunned a place which calls itself a "mission" would have people who were so disrespectful to other human beings, so bigoted in their perspective of homeless or deaf people. I stepped 1 foot away from the building onto the public sidewalk and sat down. He went inside, and I clearly heard him say to someone, "There's a guy out here causing trouble."
Another man came out and said to me, "If 'they' have to ask you more than once, 'they' will call the police." He spoke as though he was not affiliated with "them," but as neither had the courtesy to introduce himself or wore any kind of visible identification, they could have been clients, ministers or just two guys walking down the street.
I had heard horrifying stories about this place from people who refused to go back & didn't feel safe. Anyone off the street can come into dormitory areas & rifle through clients' belongings stolen. The majority of homeless people I've spoken to prefer to take their chances on the streets or in jail rather than this mission, a sad commentary. I suspected these might be exagerated stories I finally experienced first hand, and now understand the disdain & dismissive attitude - the retaliatory disrespect adopted by the mission's staff. I presume they apply for & secure grants, to the exclusion of other, safer, more welcoming & more deserving organizations. I know they solicit donations from the general public, and as a "church," likely receive tax-exempt status, meaning everyone pays to support this shabby & abysmally-run operation. I supported the Long Beach Rescue Mission in the past, but will no longer, until such time as it adopts a more positive, supportive & "Christian" approach to the disadvantaged & most vulnerable in our community. This mission gives Long Beach, Christians & society as a whole, a black eye. Shame on you, Long Beach Rescue Mission.