KALAMAZOO, MI -- Pastor Michael Brown said protests won't change how the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission serves homeless people in the community.

For the second week, a growing number of people are camping in Bronson Park to protest a perceived lack of resources for the homeless in Kalamazoo County. The occupation began as a rebuke of proposed changes to Kalamazoo city parks rules, but expanded into a campaign which partially seeks an alternative to the downtown Gospel Mission.

Located on a sprawling campus between West Kalamazoo Avenue and Ransom Street, the Gospel Mission provides three meals a day, overnight shelter, long-term lodging, counseling, career development and other social services for men, women and children. It provides shelter for 350 to 500 people every night.

Chris Wahmhoff, a local activist elected to speak for demonstrators, said up to 50 people are occupying Bronson Park during the day. At night, that number swells to around 100.

Protesters cite a variety of grievances with the privately-funded, faith-based support organization. Some have issues with aging facilities, which are set to receive an $8 million renovation, but others focus on rules and programs deemed too restrictive.

Brown, president and CEO of the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, said structure is integral to providing a safe environment. His role is to provide a mechanism to empower people to change themselves, he said.

Programs are based on Biblical teachings but meant to be manageable for everyone.

The pastor understands people will disagree with his organization's philosophy. But those ideas have been central to the rescue mission since it's founding in 1933 and aren't likely to change anytime soon.

"I liken it to going to a Chinese restaurant and asking for a pepperoni pizza," Brown said. "There's certain things we don't do. What we do, I believe we do well."

At a time when homelessness appears to be on the rise, the organization is also working on expanding its footprint. Next year, construction will begin on a new structure to double the shelter space for women and children.

Almost 200 mats are available in two communal rooms, one for men and one for women. The "good Samaritan" rooms are available for anyone to stay overnight.

Other living arrangements set up like a military barracks or college dorm rooms are available for people who commit to counseling and support programs. Church attendance is encouraged and substance-free living required.

Why teach the Gospel? Brown used another analogy.

The Navy veteran used to work on vehicles. When he didn't know how to fix something, he would go back to the manual. Brown said the Bible is the manual for how to live successfully and instills a drive for self-sufficiency.

Some of the protesters are lacking that drive, Brown said.

"I think there is a group of people who want you to just give them everything," Brown said. "You have another group of people who really want a job -- there's something in them that lets them know that they need to be productive. Then you have people who are standing on a corner with a sign that no longer says 'will work for food,' it just says 'homeless.'"

Willing to change

Gospel Mission services are vital for people like Marc Zuverink, who said protesters present a twisted image of the Gospel Mission. Zuverink, 48, his wife, their 4-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter live at the Gospel Mission.

Zuverink takes issue with complaints from demonstrators, particularly about the Gospel Mission's religious bent. He is Jewish, but isn't offended by the organization's philosophy.

"A lot of these people hear them pray, see the word Gospel and automatically assume there is some kind of 'Jesus Nazis' (who will) cram it down their throat," Zuverink said.

The Holland native moved to Kalamazoo last fall after being provided substandard low-income housing in Battle Creek. He is a disabled former Google employee who was left unable to work after being struck by a vehicle while on a cross-country cycling trip.

Zuverink picks up part-time consulting and electronics repair jobs while his wife works at a local restaurant. They are trying to save enough money to move out of the Gospel Mission.

He also hopes to take advantage of a tax-funded program that provides temporary housing for families with school-age children.

Zuverink said people are unwilling to change their behavior.

"I understand being in your own way," he said. "It comes down to making a choice of what's important to you -- housing or living this way. A lot of people down here really like living like this. It's kind of passe now."

Drug use, particularly meth and opiates, are so common among the homeless community that Zuverink began carrying Narcan to intervene when someone overdoses. He's used it twice.

"Methamphetamine is absolutely terrible and rampant downtown," he said.

The Gospel Mission came under fire for banning people who misbehave or are a safety risk. Brown said staff are told to understand the issues homeless people are dealing with, often related to substance abuse and mental health, but put the safety of other residents first.

Security contracting firm WLP Executive Protection LLC was hired last month to provide protection at the Gospel Mission. Brown said people were sleeping under cars and causing issues while loitering outside.

Certain behavior can't be tolerated, Brown said.

While giving reporters a tour of the Gospel Mission facilities Tuesday, Brown was approached by a woman. She complained of a man who has been getting high and making threats to other residents.

Occupation

Brown visited the park this week to meet with demonstrators but was told they would not talk without a lawyer present.

This caused him to question the group's motives; he wonders if they are being manipulated by activists with their own agenda.

"I think what has happened is that the people who are genuinely homeless, who really want help, have been hijacked and had the microphone taken away from them," Brown said.

Occupy Kalamazoo is helping the homeless people organize. It staged similar demonstrations of civil disobedience to protest homelessness in 2012, which were broken up after police intervention.

Wahmhoff, who was arrested for sleeping in the park in 2012, said he is cognizant of letting the protesters speak for themselves.

"They are at the park waiting for (city officials) to speak to them," Wahmhoff said. "We are not trying to be the middlemen."

Wahmhoff contacted Ann Arbor law firm Heberle & Finnegan, PLLC, to represent plaintiffs in a possible case against the city of Kalamazoo, and helped develop a list of five demands, including:

A moratorium of enforcement on an ordinance preventing people from sleeping in parks until Kalamazoo provides adequate resources. Sleeping from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and sleeping on paved surfaces, including the Rotary Stage in Bronson Park is punishable by a misdemeanor charge, $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.

The removal of David Anderson from Kalamazoo County's public housing commission. Anderson serves as chair. The group wants to replace him with someone who has had experience being homeless.

An investigation into negligence and abuse at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.

The construction of a secular shelter that provides access to housing vouchers and social services.

More affordable housing options for low-income residents.

The demands will be presented to the City Commission after being added to the Sept. 4 agenda via citizen request. Clerk Scott Borling protesters delivered a written proposal with the demands, signed by 28 people, on Monday.

It will be up to the commission to decide if it will take action on the demands.