downtown shelter incompatable with commerce, says Paineville, OH

Tom Boland (wgcp@earthlink.net)
Thu, 22 Oct 1998 18:00:02 -0400 

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http://www.cleveland.com:80/news/pdnews/metro/c3shelte.phtml
FWD  [Cleveland, Ohio] Plain Dealer - Monday, October 19, 1998


HOMELESS SHELTER HAS BROAD SUPPORT
By Mark Vosburgh, Plain Dealer Reporter


PAINESVILLE - For perhaps the first time in five years, city officials and
advocates for the homeless have found common ground.

The ground, an undeveloped lot at Chester and Chardon streets, is where
Project Hope for the Homeless proposes to build a shelter. And even critics
of the church-affiliated agency are considering the idea.

"If they had a permanent residence outside of downtown, it wouldn't be too
bad," said Councilman William Horvath.

As proposed, the agency would purchase the land from another nonprofit
agency, Habitat for Humanity, and build a 25-bed shelter for use by
November 1999.

The opening of Lake County's only permanent shelter would end the agency's
controversial practice of providing lodging each winter in the downtown
United Methodist Church.

For the last four years, the council grudgingly approved temporary use of
the church with the condition that the agency find another location -
preferably in another community - in the future.

The agency is asking to use the church for one more winter. The council is
expected to consider the request today.

The Planning Commission recommended approval last week in spite of a
warning from Marilyn Roberson, the city's economic development manager.

"The approval of the temporary shelter is incompatible with promoting the
downtown and the desire to attract commercial redevelopment interest,"
Roberson wrote.

Council President John Clair said he supported the agency's request to use
the church from Nov. 1 to April 30, 1999. Clair also gave a tentative
endorsement to the idea of building a permanent center at Chester and
Chardon streets.

"It's preferable to where they are now," he said. "I think it's a good
direction they are going in."

Horvath said he had yet to decide how to vote on the use of the church. He
also expressed concern that Project Hope would not complete the new shelter
by the winter

Project Hope Executive Director Judy Hamlett said the agency was committed
to making this winter its final season at the church.

"We want it as much as the city wants it," she said. "We are pursuing it
very aggressively."

Hamlett said the agency was negotiating to buy the land for about $7,000.
The agency has yet to calculate construction costs but intends to finance
the project with donations and grants from private foundations, she said.

Plain Dealer reporter Karl Turner contributed to this report.

EDN FORWARD
** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. **

HOMELESS PEOPLE'S NETWORK  <http://aspin.asu.edu/hpn/>  Home Page
ARCHIVES  <http://aspin.asu.edu/hpn/archives.html>  read posts to HPN
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http://www.cleveland.com:80/news/pdnews/metro/c3shelte.phtml

FWD  [Cleveland, Ohio] Plain Dealer - Monday, October 19, 1998



<paraindent><param>right,left</param>HOMELESS SHELTER HAS BROAD SUPPORT


By Mark Vosburgh, Plain Dealer Reporter

</paraindent>


PAINESVILLE - For perhaps the first time in five years, city officials
and advocates for the homeless have found common ground.


The ground, an undeveloped lot at Chester and Chardon streets, is where
Project Hope for the Homeless proposes to build a shelter. And even
critics of the church-affiliated agency are considering the idea.


"If they had a permanent residence outside of downtown, it wouldn't be
too bad," said Councilman William Horvath.


As proposed, the agency would purchase the land from another nonprofit
agency, Habitat for Humanity, and build a 25-bed shelter for use by
November 1999.


The opening of Lake County's only permanent shelter would end the
agency's controversial practice of providing lodging each winter in the
downtown United Methodist Church.


For the last four years, the council grudgingly approved temporary use
of the church with the condition that the agency find another location
- preferably in another community - in the future.


The agency is asking to use the church for one more winter. The council
is expected to consider the request today.


The Planning Commission recommended approval last week in spite of a
warning from Marilyn Roberson, the city's economic development
manager.


"The approval of the temporary shelter is incompatible with promoting
the downtown and the desire to attract commercial redevelopment
interest," Roberson wrote.


Council President John Clair said he supported the agency's request to
use the church from Nov. 1 to April 30, 1999. Clair also gave a
tentative endorsement to the idea of building a permanent center at
Chester and Chardon streets.


"It's preferable to where they are now," he said. "I think it's a good
direction they are going in."


Horvath said he had yet to decide how to vote on the use of the church.
He also expressed concern that Project Hope would not complete the new
shelter by the winter

                                               

Project Hope Executive Director Judy Hamlett said the agency was
committed to making this winter its final season at the church.


"We want it as much as the city wants it," she said. "We are pursuing
it very aggressively."


Hamlett said the agency was negotiating to buy the land for about
$7,000. The agency has yet to calculate construction costs but intends
to finance the project with donations and grants from private
foundations, she said.


Plain Dealer reporter Karl Turner contributed to this report.


EDN FORWARD 

** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. **


HOMELESS PEOPLE'S NETWORK  <<http://aspin.asu.edu/hpn/>  Home Page

ARCHIVES  <<http://aspin.asu.edu/hpn/archives.html>  read posts to HPN

TO JOIN  <<http://aspin.asu.edu/hpn/join.html> or email Tom <<wgcp@earthlink.net>

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