A proposal by city officials would turn a vacant city property into a place where homeless people could legally rest and access basic shelter, such as ice-fishing tents, and certain amenities. We reported on the proposal earlier this week.
The proposal came at the request of councilmembers, who have been mulling over such a program for years as part of a broader strategy for addressing the city’s inadequate supply of emergency shelter space.
Councilmembers decided on Jan. 18 not to make a decision about the alternative sheltering space yet. Instead, they will continue discussing the program on Feb. 8, when councilmembers are scheduled to have a broader conversation about homelessness.
The proposal by city staff would provide shelter to about 30 people. The city’s most recent point-in-time survey conducted over the summer counted 171 people sleeping outside.
The total cost of the program could top $3 million, depending on the type of structure and programming, according to estimates from city officials. The price tag could prompt financial tradeoffs affecting other city programs. It has also raised a debate over whether creating the new program is the best use of limited resources. Several residents, for instance, urged councilmembers during a public hearing on Jan. 18 to instead invest in drug addiction treatment in light of the recent rise in fentanyl overdoses.