Downtown Merchants Share Views On Homeless Shelter Proposal
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Downtown Warsaw merchants say they are not denying that there is a need for a homeless shelter in the city.
However, they are concerned with the location of where the shelter is being proposed.
A petition was submitted Nov. 9 to the building and planning department in opposition to a proposed homeless shelter in downtown Warsaw.
The petition had 37 names of downtown business and property owners.
A form must be filed by Jerry Opperud, Buffalo Street Emporium, who collected the signatures, before the shelter petition can be reviewed by Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals. Opperud can still withdraw the petition.
The Times-Union visited some of the business owners Thursday afternoon who had signed the petition to learn their position on the homeless shelter proposal.
Some business owners whose names were on the petition chose not to be interviewed, while others shared their ideas on the proposed homeless shelter.
Fellowship Missions is proposing to locate a permanent homeless shelter at 110 E. Market St., downtown Warsaw.
Warsaw Community Development Corp. held a meeting Tuesday with Eric Lane, Fellowship Missions director, to share the shelter proposal. The meeting was the day before the Times-Union obtained the petition with names of business owners who opposed the shelter.
Robin Watters, Rex's Rendezvous owner, said he feels there is a need to help the homeless, but believes the homeless shelter in a downtown business district is not the appropriate location for a homeless shelter.
Watters said last year there was a homeless man from South Bend who visited the bar looking for a place to stay, and Watters directed the man to the police department for assistance.
"No one wants to hurt anyone by any means. We want to help people, but at the same time I am trying to make a living by running a business," Watters said.
He said tax dollars would be better invested in creating jobs than going toward a homeless shelter.
Jean Ann Dennie, Dennie House, whose name was on the petition, said she does not have a problem with a homeless shelter in Warsaw, but felt the proposed Market Street location is not appropriate.
Dennie said she had a negative experience last summer with a homeless man who caused problems inside her business, and she said she had to call police for assistance.
Dennie said she was concerned with the number of homeless people the shelter might attract to the downtown.
"I think the former Brennan Building, in a commercial zoning district, is an inappropriate location for the shelter and won't enhance the downtown, but I am not against a homeless shelter, just the proposed location," Dennie said.
Jackie Long, Chocolate Shop Cafe and Boutique, whose name was on the petition, said she feels there is a need for a homeless shelter, but that the Market Street location is not appropriate.
Long, who has been the owner of Chocolate Shop Cafe and Boutique for 17 years, said in the downtown she has seen men who sit on benches for extended periods of the day in the downtown.
"I know the shelter is needed, but I don't think the downtown is a good place," Long said.
