TRI In The News
Homeless Shelter Vote Today
From The News Virginian
Original article available here
While there has been disagreement about locations and the limits of use, Waynesboro City Council will vote today on the early January opening of homeless shelter in the city.
The council is set to vote this afternoon at 4 p.m. on a conditional-use permit that would allow the Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry to open a cold-weather shelter starting Jan. 2 at the Basic United Methodist Church youth center.
The Waynesboro Planning Commission unanimously approved the WARM board’s plans last week.
The shelter must follow regulations that include a maximum occupancy of 20 patrons and operation hours of 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
The shelter will also only admit those over the age of 18.
The council and planning commission held a joint public hearing on Dec. 12, in which WARM chairman Howard Miller, pastor of Waynesboro Mennonite Church, lobbied for the permit’s approval.
He added that he would like to have a “reasonable conversation in the near future” with the council and city staff regarding zoning ordinances.
The cold-weather shelter was initially set to open on Dec. 12 and rotate among four local churches.
The WARM board was told by the city that homeless shelters do not qualify as a primary or accessory use for churches, as stated in Waynesboro’s city zoning ordinance.
WARM asked for assistance from the Rutherford Institute of Charlottesville.
John Whitehead, president of Rutherford, wrote the city stating a violation of area churches’ constitutional rights in limiting the shelter application.
Interviewed again on Monday, Miller said the focus now is on today’s passage by city council and the opening of the shelter.
He said should the shelter be approved, there would be a dedication ceremony at 6 p.m. Jan. 2.
In the future, Miller said he is hoping for a broader discussion with the city about the shelter and the limitations placed on it.
“I guess we are hoping we can have more conversations with city council. There is a real concern about the way they are limiting churches’ rights to have their ministry and do ministry,’’ Miller said. “It’s problematic. Now we need to focus on helping people have a place to sleep. We are hoping for an ongoing and continued dialogue.”
The youth building at Basic United Methodist was the only proposed facility to meet the city’s safety requirements, leaving WARM in search of alternative sites.
Miller also told the council that his board has put together a list of people who would be willing to house shelter patrons with children under of the age of 18. Paying for an overnight motel for these families would be another option.
He received positive feedback from city council two weeks ago, with all signs pointing to a second approval for the shelter.
