In last month's issue of Street Sense, I proposed converting the Franklin Shelter into a model shelter; the idea is not as far-fetched as I thought it might be. I believe I can say that I have seen it.

This model shelter is exhibited to a large part in a shelter already operating: the men's shelter on New York Avenue, NE. Its only problem is that it is located on the fringe of the city, not in the center, where the need is. Let me give a bit of background.

I recently toured some of the facilities operated by Catholic Community Services (CCS). With me on the visit were CCS division director Chapman Todd, Street Sense executive director Laura Thompson Osuri and Street Sense associate editor David Hammond.

We visited facilities throughout D.C. and one of the things that became quite apparent was the contrast between the facilities owned by the District and operated by CCS, largely emergency shelters; and those both owned and operated by CCS, largely transitional housing. The transitional housing was by and large a better temporary home, and the residents got better services and seemed to have more hope.

At CCS' Mount Carmel House, a transitional housing program for 20 women, there are support services for up to two years to prepare the residents for self-sufficient living. An on-site social worker/counselor helps them with life skills, the GED, and job searches. The residents we met had a very positive attitude about their future.

CCS' 30-bed Mulumba House for men, on Rhode Island Avenue, NW, is also a transitional housing program. It is pleasing to the eye both inside and out, and is maintained with the help of the residents. The staff seems highly qualified and interacts well with the clients.

Now we'll look at the shelters owned by the city and managed by CCS, the designated provider, and see the difference.

The Harriet Tubman Women's Shelter is a low-barrier facility, which means overnight accommodation without the imposition of identification, time limits, or other program requirements.

Its capacity is 95 to 100 women. The first thing apparent to me was the building's location, tucked away on the grounds of the old D.C. General Hospital. If you did not know it was there you would be hard pressed to find it. Also, the paved walkways were much in need of repair.

And it seemed, if through an untrained eye, that many of its residents were in dire need of some psychiatric care.

The New York Avenue Shelter, also low-barrier, holds up to 360 men per night, with only four full-time social workers on duty throughout the week. About 175 men are seeing a caseworker, and a Department of Mental Health psychiatrist is on duty once a week. The brightest spot was that a Unity Health Care clinic is to begin operation soon.

For me, all this could truly add up to an operation designed to elevate the client from the homeless situation, to being a productive and self-supporting individual.

That would be as close to a model shelter as we can envision, with the big exception that it was not centrally located, where such a facility is most needed. And although many of the pieces are being put in place, there is still a ways to go before this shelter offers all the kinds of help people need, all day, every day.

The Franklin Shelter in downtown D.C., also low-barrier, has all the problems they are trying to solve at New York Avenue. The building is in much need of repair. A mobile medical unit comes once a week, but for other services the residents must go elsewhere.

Franklin has a capacity of 240 persons per night, but often there are up to 270 there. So those men need a shelter in downtown Washington. And they need more services. It is paramount to those living there that this or some other homeless facility stay open within the downtown area, and that it be better than what we now have.

District law says homeless providers shall make sure that staff is trained, qualified and supervised and that facilities are safe, clean and sanitary and meet all applicable District health, sanitation, fire, building and zoning codes.

Let's hope the next mayor heeds those rules.

One solution is a re-evaluation of Mayor Tony Williams' proposal to close Franklin. Let's hope our new mayor will see fit to meet the needs of hundreds of the city's homeless and keep Franklin open - and give it the services, support, and repairs it needs to become the kind of full-service shelter I have seen elsewhere in the city.