The city council voted 4-3 earlier this week in favor of opening the homeless shelter, proving council members’ disagreement on location and capacity.
Chief of Staff James P. Morris called the decision, which was postponed back in September, a “sensitive issue.”
“The council was unsuccessful in finding an alternative location for the shelter,” Morris said.
Human Potential Consultants’ aim for this location is to take in ex-convicts living in the city, while protecting residents of the nearby domestic violence shelter Option House.
In addition to zoning issues, council members argued the number of parolees and probationers allowed to be housed in the shelter.
The motion Monday removes a council desired limit of six offenders to now having no limit.
Morris stated he did not know the way in which council members voted, but the topic definitely split the council down the middle.
PublicCEO covered homelessness affecting local government back in August. To read about how budget issues are affecting city and county decisions, follow this link.
Louis Dettorre can be reached at ldettorre@publicceo.com
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