Homer City Council takes step to help homeless
Planning and zoning issues dominated discussion Monday night at the Homer City Council’s regular meeting. With temperatures falling earlier this month below zero, one proposed zoning change could mean saving lives by providing temporary shelter for homeless people facing bitter cold in winter.
Introduced by council member Shelly Erickson, Memorandum 17-017 would start discussion on a draft ordinance to change zoning regulations so that churches could provide temporary housing overnight for several days from October to April. The change would be a permitted use, meaning facilities wouldn’t have to apply for a conditional use permit and approval by the Homer Advisory Planning Commission. The memorandum passed unanimously and goes to the planning commission for further review and preparation of a draft ordinance.
The ordinance got support of several homeless advocates speaking to the council.
“We just want people to know we’re out there and support this issue,” said Lt. Christin Fankhauser of the Salvation Army, a member of the Homeless Action Committee. “We want to do what we can to take care of the less fortunate in Homer.”
Read more: http://homernews.com/news/2017-01-26/council-takes-step-help-homeless