Contributor: Chair Holli Morton
This letter was sent to the Mayor and City Council on 12/2/24 after their business session.
As it appears that you continue to consider buying the property next to BiMart, I make the following recommendations:
- We need an appraisal of the building.
- Request a five-year business plan from MINT
- Will the plumbing accommodate 70+ persons?
- What is the game plan for unruly guests?
- What will we do with the dozens of people who come to town because we have a new shelter?
- At least a two-year internal (City) business plan
- What happens if the MINT business model becomes insolvent?
- Occupants?
- Building?
- How will the city handle the next “humanitarian crisis” that will affect the building?
- Plumbing
- Roof
- Heating and air
- Crime
- Neighborhood and Park disruption
- What do we do with the people who don’t meet the criterion for living at the “shelter”?
- What happens if the MINT business model becomes insolvent?
Questions:
- Who is the target population for the shelter?
- If the shelter occupants can’t have pets or use drugs, why not go to the Mission? It is a well-established program with many beds open. Are you saying that the Mission’s objective of residents finding a higher power is a viable reason for people not seeking shelter there? I suspect animals will continue to be a problem. They are like family to these people.
- What steps will be taken to ensure that residents aren’t on drugs?
- How can we protect residents against other residents who may have violent tendencies or drug problems?
- Why do we feel that moving people indoors will lessen the existing social problems?
- Have you considered a larger building outside of town?