Posted 12:28 am Thursday, February 09, 2012
Homeless Resource Center Gets Approval
By JACQUE HILBURN-SIMMONS
Staff Writer
Gateway to Hope can move forward with plans to establish a homeless resource center on Valentine Street, but strict rules must be followed to keep the doors open, the Tyler City Council decided Wednesday.
Members agreed to support a one-year special use permit and updated zoning to support the new center at 601 Valentine St., reversing a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission to permit the facility indefinitely.
The reversal came after several neighboring property owners expressed concerns about the safety of their families and businesses with strangers wandering through the area.
City leaders said the special use permit, which starts when the center opens, means negative behaviors that go unaddressed can be dealt with swiftly.
Staff Writer
Gateway to Hope can move forward with plans to establish a homeless resource center on Valentine Street, but strict rules must be followed to keep the doors open, the Tyler City Council decided Wednesday.
Members agreed to support a one-year special use permit and updated zoning to support the new center at 601 Valentine St., reversing a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission to permit the facility indefinitely.
The reversal came after several neighboring property owners expressed concerns about the safety of their families and businesses with strangers wandering through the area.
City leaders said the special use permit, which starts when the center opens, means negative behaviors that go unaddressed can be dealt with swiftly.
“We can revoke it at any time if there are problems,” Mayor Barbara Bass said.
Efforts to create the resource center stem from an earlier recommendation from the mayor’s homeless task force, which indicated a well-run resource center can go a long way in helping the homeless help themselves.
City leaders agreed last month to create a Homeless Roundtable to begin implementing the task force’s recommendations, one of which is the resource center.
Planner Heather Nick said the special use permit includes a number of limitations: no overnight stays, loitering, trespassing onto private property, begging, improper use of bus stops or criminal activity.
The one-year permit can be extended if the rules for operating are followed, she said.
Efforts to create the resource center stem from an earlier recommendation from the mayor’s homeless task force, which indicated a well-run resource center can go a long way in helping the homeless help themselves.
City leaders agreed last month to create a Homeless Roundtable to begin implementing the task force’s recommendations, one of which is the resource center.
Planner Heather Nick said the special use permit includes a number of limitations: no overnight stays, loitering, trespassing onto private property, begging, improper use of bus stops or criminal activity.
The one-year permit can be extended if the rules for operating are followed, she said.
“If they do have a problem, how quickly can we act?” District 5 Councilman Mark Whatley asked.
Ms Nick said issues can be addressed initially through code and law enforcement authorities, then planning and zoning and the city council.
Center officials said they plan to operate a reputable establishment, not a flop house.
The Rev. Pat Mallory, tapped as the center’s executive director, said the purpose is to connect people with resources necessary for securing employment: a barber, lockers, message center and photo identification.
“They will not be hanging out all day,” she said. “There will be no TV, no food. We want to be a good neighbor.”
Residents remain skeptical.
“Everything sounds good,” resident Domingo Guerra said. “Reality is that things don’t always go the way you want to. It’s going to be hard for people in the neighborhood with a bunch of people wandering around. We’re not going to feel safe.”
With the help of a translator, resident Esperanza Avalo said a chain link fence is the only barrier between her and the planned center.
“She’s concerned about her safety,” the translator said. “She’s against it.”
Restaurant operator and father of five Manuel Mendez, also through a translator, said he once operated a business near a Dallas homeless facility and the situation was problematic from day one due to car-break-ins and panhandling.
“He said he likes the (center) idea and he’s hoping it can be done, but in a different location, without families and businesses,” the translator said. “He knows they have reasons for being homeless, most of them … a lot of damage can happen in a little bit of time.”
Property owner Andy Hurell said he fears the center will attract people to the neighborhood who might otherwise be hanging out somewhere else.
“At 5 o’clock, when the volunteers get in their cars and go home, who will deal with them then?”
he said. “If someone is homeless, what kind of rules will they abide by? Give us some hope — we’re working people who are taking care of our families.”
District 3 Councilman Ralph Caraway suggested a one-year permit.
“I understand their concerns,” he said. “I think we’ve been challenged as a council to show the neighborhood this can work. I don’t want the neighborhood to feel like it is being dumped on them.”
Police Chief Gary Swindle said officers are prepared to respond to any negative issues as they arise, including the extra patrol.
The Rev. Mallory said she also understands resident concerns.
“We’re not going to encourage them to hang out in your neighborhood,” she said. “We’re trying to get them out of your neighborhood.”
Judge Judith Guthrie said the center will be supported by several churches.
Supporter Tracy Crawford said, “We believe we can change lives.”
District 1 Councilman Sam Mezayek said he didn’t want a repeat of what happened with the homeless assistance facility that closed.
“I know one of the problems we had with the Glenwood facility was loitering outside the building,” he said, noting the special use permit should avert those types of issues.
A lot was learned from that situation, said District 4 Councilman Martin Heines, who led the mayor’s task force that came up with the center’s present location.
“It’s going to be run as a first-class facility,” Heines said. “You have a larger network of people who are going to be involved.”
Ms Nick said issues can be addressed initially through code and law enforcement authorities, then planning and zoning and the city council.
Center officials said they plan to operate a reputable establishment, not a flop house.
The Rev. Pat Mallory, tapped as the center’s executive director, said the purpose is to connect people with resources necessary for securing employment: a barber, lockers, message center and photo identification.
“They will not be hanging out all day,” she said. “There will be no TV, no food. We want to be a good neighbor.”
Residents remain skeptical.
“Everything sounds good,” resident Domingo Guerra said. “Reality is that things don’t always go the way you want to. It’s going to be hard for people in the neighborhood with a bunch of people wandering around. We’re not going to feel safe.”
With the help of a translator, resident Esperanza Avalo said a chain link fence is the only barrier between her and the planned center.
“She’s concerned about her safety,” the translator said. “She’s against it.”
Restaurant operator and father of five Manuel Mendez, also through a translator, said he once operated a business near a Dallas homeless facility and the situation was problematic from day one due to car-break-ins and panhandling.
“He said he likes the (center) idea and he’s hoping it can be done, but in a different location, without families and businesses,” the translator said. “He knows they have reasons for being homeless, most of them … a lot of damage can happen in a little bit of time.”
Property owner Andy Hurell said he fears the center will attract people to the neighborhood who might otherwise be hanging out somewhere else.
“At 5 o’clock, when the volunteers get in their cars and go home, who will deal with them then?”
he said. “If someone is homeless, what kind of rules will they abide by? Give us some hope — we’re working people who are taking care of our families.”
District 3 Councilman Ralph Caraway suggested a one-year permit.
“I understand their concerns,” he said. “I think we’ve been challenged as a council to show the neighborhood this can work. I don’t want the neighborhood to feel like it is being dumped on them.”
Police Chief Gary Swindle said officers are prepared to respond to any negative issues as they arise, including the extra patrol.
The Rev. Mallory said she also understands resident concerns.
“We’re not going to encourage them to hang out in your neighborhood,” she said. “We’re trying to get them out of your neighborhood.”
Judge Judith Guthrie said the center will be supported by several churches.
Supporter Tracy Crawford said, “We believe we can change lives.”
District 1 Councilman Sam Mezayek said he didn’t want a repeat of what happened with the homeless assistance facility that closed.
“I know one of the problems we had with the Glenwood facility was loitering outside the building,” he said, noting the special use permit should avert those types of issues.
A lot was learned from that situation, said District 4 Councilman Martin Heines, who led the mayor’s task force that came up with the center’s present location.
“It’s going to be run as a first-class facility,” Heines said. “You have a larger network of people who are going to be involved.”
