We oppose the relocation of the men's shelter to MLK and Homestead Road.

Suggesting that locating all overnight social services for at-risk populations for the entire county in one-fifth of a square mile will have no impact on surrounding neighborhoods is nothing less than sheer folly.

While we applaud the efforts of the Inter-Faith Council and support the need for homeless shelters, the density of homeless shelters and transitional housing in our area is already high. Today, around Homestead Park, an area about 1/5th of a square mile, houses 123 halfway and transitional beds to accommodate residents who struggle with homelessness, drug/alcohol addiction and mental illness. If the new men's shelter chooses to operate at maximum capacity, this community may house up to 242 halfway, transitional, and homeless shelter beds. We are a densely residential and family-oriented community centered around Homestead Park but are also varied: housing in this area includes three mobile home parks, two public housing developments, affordable housing units and a large apartment complex for students. Asking our community to absorb another homeless shelter is simply callous to the needs of the families and students that live here as well as those who use the park. Everything has an impact, and while we're are glad to carry our fair share, we're not inspired by those who are not interested in the well being of our neighborhoods.

The area around Homestead Park and along the MLK corridor is already under tremendous development pressures due to the impending development of Carolina North, The Cottages of Chapel Hill, the Altemueller property, and Bridgepoint.  A future justice facility and possibly a jail are slated for construction at the Southern Human Services Center, and a methane power plant to accommodate the energy needs of Carolina North is being considered at the Homestead power substation. We ask the Town Council to consider down-zoning for our area and also vote "no" for the Special Use Permit for the men's homeless shelter. 

We know residents in homeless and transitional housing are good people who seek support and rehabilitation, but many are disproportionately afflicted by alcoholism, drug abuse and mental health issues.  We wonder if it's wise to put so many in crisis within arm's reach of each other. We talked with moms who live In Rainbow Court, a public housing neighborhood in our community, and they admittedly have problems of their own and are worried about the disruption that yet another facility would bring to their families and neighborhood.

Siting for the new men's shelter rejected public process and lacked political transparency. This is not The Chapel Hill Way. The land was not publicly sold; it was chosen using only IFC criteria without input from the surrounding community, and made its way for approval by the Governor through the Council of State without the knowledge of the Chapel Hill Town Council.

It's time for advocates of the proposed location to stop the name calling. We are neither ignorant nor fearful. We value our neighborhoods, respect the good works of existing facilities we live near and advocate for responsible growth in our community. We have taken the time to fully research the addition of another homeless shelter in our neighborhood and oppose it based on facts and fairness to our residents. We ask the Chapel Hill Town Council to use public process to find a better site for the new men's homeless shelter.