Today's Idaho Statesman

Community members question Salvation Army over shelter

Brad Hem

The Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 09-02-2005

About 250 North End residents packed the Lowell Elementary School gym Thursday evening to give Boise Mayor Dave Bieter and city and Salvation Army officials an earful about plans to turn a shelter traditionally used for teenage mothers at 24th and Bella streets into a homeless shelter for families and single parents.

Most of the neighbors at the meeting said they are not happy about the change. They fear increased crime. They expect to see more loitering in their yards and nearby parks because the shelter residents are required to leave the site from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. They are worried about the safety of their children playing in the area. They are worried that men acquainted with women at the shelter will loiter in the neighborhood. Some said they have already seen more problems since the Salvation Army started housing homeless families at the Booth Family Care Center two weeks ago.

Salvation Army spokesman Rick Hempsmyer tried to assuage concerns by telling residents the organization provides strict case management for its clients, leaving them little time to cause problems in the neighborhood. Some shelter residents will have cars to take them where they need to go; others will be dependent on bus service. If they loiter in the neighborhood, they will be kicked out of the shelter, he said.

Dominique Naegele-Clifford said she has seen problems directly related to the Booth shelter.

"They're not allowed to drink on the property, so what they do is go and buy their alcohol and then they come into our yards and drink," she said.

Part of the reason neighbors are fired up is that the Salvation Army changed the purpose of the facility without getting input from them or approval from the city. Several residents complained they first learned of the plan in the newspaper. And they don't think a shelter belongs in their residential neighborhood.

"We're going from a residential care center ... to a transient care center," said neighbor Garth Newman, who helped organize the meeting. "Our big issue is this is not an appropriate change or an appropriate use for the Booth home."

Some people at the meeting said the neighborhood is obligated to provide help for the families, who otherwise would have no place to go. They didn't get as much applause as those who oppose the shelter, but there was some dissent among the group.

"Not everyone in this neighborhood proposes throwing families out on the street," said Gary Reedy.

Hempsmyer said the Salvation Army believes it already has the necessary permits for the shelter because it used the site as a shelter 30 years ago. The city has given the Salvation Army until today to prove it has the necessary permits, or the city could take corrective action, including stopping the shelter from continuing.

The Salvation Army decided to start using those rooms for moms and children, dads and children, or parents who are still together and have children. The agency plans to have a total of 70 beds in the shelter by Oct. 1, including 14 beds in an adjacent building for single women.

The Salvation Army finished the first phase of expanding Booth Family Care Center two weeks ago. Housing for pregnant teens and teens with children was eliminated because the Salvation Army said fewer teens used those rooms each year. The need for a family shelter was created by the city's plans to stop operating the Community House shelter at 13th and River streets.

Additional Information:

The Salvation Army has until today to show city planning and development services officials proof that using the Booth Family Care Center to house homeless families is allowed under its existing permits. Failure to prove that would mean the Salvation Army has been operating the shelter illegally for the past two weeks, and the city could take corrective action, including stopping the shelter from operating.

posted by Dominique @ 10:01 AM