About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 29, 2019)
Hand in Hand Continued from Page 1 happens in their neighborhood and said he was impressed. “Please keep an open mind,” he said. “We don’t want this to be an is sue in your community.” Then he launched into an expla nation of how the homeless would be screened. They will apply through something called the Coordinated En try System and must have a history of being homeless for three years. He said the Coordinated Entry Sys tem did a vulnerability assessment to see who would qualify. “Once they are housed they become residents in an apartment building.” They would receive permanent supportive housing. Services would be provided to them on site by therapists, counselors, medical personnel and case workers. “People would be placed on need,” he said. He said there would be no sex offenders or violent persons placed in Harper’s Joy. Another board member, Katherine Thurber, tried to talk to the crowd by telling them how passionate all the board members were about the homeless. But she was interrupted by the crowd had been told their questions they turned in on index cards would be answered. They were getting rest less to get to their questions. Then board member Linda Heagy tried telling the crowd that she under stood their concern about their prop erty values. “This (Harper’s Joy) is the wrong place,” someone shouted. “You need to place them where they can get jobs like near the mall or a commercial area.” Clark again attempted to intervene and said, “Most non profit services are located within the city. Services are driven within the city and that’s why we have a large homeless population in Brunswick.” Then Heagy said it cost $40,000 per year to care for one homeless person. An audience member asked where she was getting her numbers, and when she said Mecklenberg County N.C., (Charlotte) the audience dis solved into laughter and shouted her down. Heagy continued saying it would cost about $12,000 per year to house a person at Harper’s Joy and bring the services to them. She also said the res idents chosen for Harper’s Joy would have either social security or disabil ity income and that 30% of their in come would go toward their rent. She said HUD or DCA would make up the difference and pay for some of the social services. At this point the crowd began to shout out their questions. Lance Sabee, who was trying to conduct the meeting, suggested that Hand in Hand discuss other locations under consideration. Stembler said, “We didn’t target this neighborhood. We looked at sev eral places and worked with a real es tate agent.” Someone shouted, “Did you look at Sea Island?” “No,” Stembler replied. Another question: “Who was the real estate agent?” She would not disclose that information. She said that when they found out the Harper’s Joy location was for sale, they looked at it and decided it was perfect. “It has 24 apartments,” she said. Audience question: “What’s the exit strategy for Harper’s Joy current residents?” Note: Harper’s Joy has been a resi dence home for handicapped adults for many years. Clark said he did not know what the exit strategy for the current resi dents was. Audience question: “What is your funding source. There is no detail to your plan.” Stembler said their plan was mod eled on the successful homeless com munity in Charlotte, N.C., Moore Place. “Property values around Moore Place tripled,” she said. Apparently audience members had done some research. Someone shouted, “It is not successful. It has brought in more people than the area can support.” Stembler said, “While we are not looking for another location. This is not a done deal. Our due diligence is up in three weeks.” Someone shouted: ‘We need to show up at a City Commission meeting.” Audience question: ‘What about security?” According to the hand out: a se curity guard with no gun will be on premises 24/7, 365 days a year. A di rector of operations will be on duty 20 hours a week to oversee services to the residents. Someone shouted, “What is Gate way doing to help the homeless?” David Crews, CFO of Gateway, said that the current residents of Harper’s Joy are aging and need more services. “They are being moved into group homes. Eight have already been moved. Gateway doesn’t have the abil ity to operate Harper’s Joy.” Audience question: “How did Harper’s Joy come on the market. Isn’t state money involved?” According to Glynn County tax records Harper’s Joy is owned by a private 501c3 non-profit, Distinctive Housing Solutions, Inc. Audience question: “Have you done an impact study on the neighborhood or a long term feasibility study on the financial commitment to maintain Harper’s Joy?” Heagy said no neighborhood impact study had been done. She did say that Hand in Hand is collecting private money. “$3 million will be raised and rehabbing the build ing will take most of that money. We want to preserve it as a landmark.” Then she said Hand in Hand would develop a second building on the prop erty, or nearby, that would provide a large meeting room for the community as well as the residents of the home. Space could be used for AA meet ings, tutoring, girl / boy scouts; GED classes, cooking classes, nutrition, or exercise. This brought loud laughter from the audience. July 29, 2019, The Islander, Page 5 Crowd questions and Hand in Hand answers continued: • yes to alcohol in the apartments; • no to overnight guests for residents. Then someone in the audience raised the zoning question; is the property zoned properly for a home less shelter use. The Islander spoke with Brenn Daiss, the City’s Planning, Zoning, Building and Codes Director, who confirmed that a conditional use per mit had ever been issued for Harper’s Joy to operate as a facility for handi capped adults. Daiss said probably because Gate way, which is a state agency, was managing the facility. However, to operate a homeless shelter, a conditional use permit would be necessary, Daiss said. So Hand in Hand would have to go through the permitting process. Daiss said she did speak with Hand in Hand representatives last Thursday, July 26 and told them that Turn to Page 8 Hand in Hand LUNCH O/l UA? OUR AGENTS ARE ALWAYS HUNGRY & KNOW THE BEST SPOTS IN TOWN. SEA PALMS COASTAL REALTY 5445 Frederica Road M St. Simons Island, GA 31522 J/ 912-638-6660 tX<] realestate@seapalms.com (@) seapalms.com feanha/ui fjean 'i a rr fleAlauAa+it S. feaA. OUR. CR.A8 CAKiS AR.6 TO Live FOR.!!! Check out our daily specials on our Facebook™ page Located in the Pier Village St. Simons Island 912-634-6500
