Rev. Larry Rice in his own words

On any given day you might find Rev. Larry Rice, founder of New Life Evangelistic Center, at one of his 13 homeless shelters. He has been involved in helping the homeless for more than thirty years. Currently, Rev. Larry Rice and New Life Evangelistic Center are in a legal dispute with the City of Springfield over tent shelter camps they have established on North Jefferson Street to aid the local homeless population. The City of Springfield contends that Rice’s homeless tent community violates city codes while Rice argues that he is aiding Springfield. The organization’s locations are scattered throughout Missouri and Illinois. Recently, Ozarks News Journal spoke with Rev. Larry Rice.

You have been working with the homeless population for some time, where does your passion come from?
To minister means to serve and I’m trying to identify with those that Jesus identified with. When I stand before Jesus I want to be able to say that I did all I could to help the homeless. I don’t want to have to explain why I had an empty parking lot I didn’t use. I have to exhaust all resources after that, I’ll let them tell these people why I can’t help them.

How large is the homeless problem in Springfield?
I know for a fact there are hundreds of people on the streets each night.

How many people stayed in your tent community on an average night?
Anywhere from 50-60 and on cold nights anywhere from 20-40 any other night. Springfield
suspends zoning requirements for churches during cold periods when the temperature is below 32 degrees. Some of the homeless population stay at a couple of churches that open their doors on those nights.

Ultimately what would you like to see the City do here?
This building was granted to us to help the homeless. The building used to be the old Social Security building. I have started a petition drive to get the city to place a proposal on the ballot that would allow us 1 acre of land so that we could have the homeless at one central location not scattered throughout the city. Then they could receive help on a daily basis.

Recently, City leaders have said you haven’t been very cooperative, what would you say to that?
We respect the law, we tried to work with city hall but we have to come out in new and unique ways to deal with them. We just want 1 acre of land and we want the city to look at this from a place of human compassion and dignity. When the city complained about loitering we responded by installing surveillance cameras, getting overnight security and allowing the police access to the shelter at any time.

Community Leaders have raised concern that you are not present on the task force that addresses the homeless issue. What is your response?
I try to spend as much time with the homeless as I can because these are the people we are providing
the services for.

The City provides services to address the needs of the homeless, why do you feel your tent city is necessary?
When the media covers the homeless you never hear from the homeless, just the homeless providers who tell you they’re meeting all the homeless’ needs. We’re not meeting all the needs here or anywhere else, if they think they’re meeting all the needs and people aren’t taking advantage of it, they are misinformed. We are here when the homeless get off work after shelter hours, we are here when the shelters are full.

Do you plan to comply with any order a judge would hand down concerning your Springfield location?
We will do what “ the powers that be” ask of us. I’m encouraging people to appeal to the judge individually. Right now we have another possible alternate location but it’s 30 miles outside of Springfield. Most of the homeless don’t have transportation. How are they going to get to the soup kitchen?

Do you have any final thoughts?
We won’t spend the money to fight this to the Supreme Court level that takes thousands and thousands and it’s money that would be better spent helping the homeless.

For related stories: See Homeless in the Ozarks