Cape Cod residents are voicing their opposition to a proposed homeless shelter location, situated merely 150 yards from an elementary school. Concerns are mounting over potential disruptions, as shelter occupants may be required to leave the premises at the same time children are arriving for school.
In a recent meeting on May 6, members of the Barnstable School Committee decided to formally express their apprehensions about the plan to move the St. Joseph’s House homeless shelter in Hyannis, Massachusetts. According to the Cape Cod Times, the new location would be just a five-minute walk from an elementary school.
Residents fear that the plan, devised by the Housing Assistance Corporation and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River, involves vacating the shelter at 7 a.m., coinciding with the time students head to school. This overlap raises safety and logistical concerns among locals.
Town Councilor Betty Ludtke expressed skepticism, stating, “Forcing people out at the same time schools are starting and businesses are opening is problematic. It didn’t work well in the previous location, and it won’t work here either,” as reported by Boston 25.
Rick Brigham, who has dedicated 27 years to working at St. Joseph’s House, echoes these concerns about the shelter’s proposed proximity to the school.
Rick Brigham, who has worked at the St. Joseph’s House for 27 years, shares the same concerns regarding the shelter’s proximity to an elementary school.
“They’re out on the street trying to survive,” Brigham said. “It’s not only problematic for the community, the business owners, the residents, it’s problematic for the neighbors in need.”
Rick Brigham, left, John and Stacey Kimball say the move of St. Joseph’s Home relocation to West Main Street would negatively impact that area. (Merrily Cassidy/Cape Cod Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
“The impact is tremendous, but there’s a different way to do this,” Brigham added.
John Kimball, who owns Steve Sue’s Par-Tee Freeze on Hyannis’ Main Street, also shared his concerns about the homeless shelter opening across the street from his business.
“My job is to make people happy, and we have the mini golf, and we have the ice cream, what better environment to make people happy in?” Kimball said. “I worry about not only the business. I mean, that’s how it all started, but then you start getting into and understanding the program, and I start getting concerned for the area.”
Notably, Hyannis is where former President John F. Kennedy had a house and was dubbed the “Summer White House.”
Even though zoning laws don’t allow for the creation of a homeless shelter in the area where plans are underway for construction, the groups behind the effort obtained a building permit.
Ludtke said the groups were able to work around the zoning laws because of a religious exemption.
Hyannis is the largest of the seven villages in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, in the United States. (DenisTangeyJr/Getty Images)
The Housing Assistance Corporation and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River, that are behind the relocation effort, tried to address community concerns in a statement.
“We understand the concerns of the community, but we have a well-designed security plan in place that protects guests and the community. The existing shelter is near schools and bus stops, and there have been no concerns over the many years it has been in operation,” the groups said.
Barnstable School Committee member Mike Judge, who claims to be “well-versed with homeless shelters,” said he’s worried about the potential that more security will have to be hired.
“I can see a lot of huge financial problems with this,” Judge said at the May 6 meeting.
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