CONWAY, AR – A church in Conway is proposing a homeless shelter in the city. Tuesday night the church met face to face with neighbors in the area who have concerns.
This was the first of two public meetings. The church told the neighbors what they can expect and the neighbors voiced their concerns.
“I guess it went alright. There’s still some unanswered questions,” neighbor Ken Jones said.
Jones lives just a few blocks from the ministry center and the proposed homeless shelter.
“We own homes and we have families and children. We’re concerned about their safety as well as our property values,” Jones said.
He says his biggest concern is what will happen to the homeless that are turned away because of drug use.
“Where are they going to go?,” Jones asked, “Are they going to concentrate more on the side of downtown where the help is at?”
“We want people that are around us to be informed of what exactly we are wanting to do with the building behind us. It’s just sitting there,” executive director of the Ministry Center Scott Taylor said.
The church says this would be the first emergency homeless shelter in Faulkner County.
“There are some mid to long-term housing options, but there’s no immediate ‘Hey, I just got evicted and I’m on the street’ options available in Faulkner County,” Taylor said.
Jones believes there is a place for this center, but not in his back yard.
“That’s our concern, what the end result will be in our neighborhood, where we live” Jones said.
There is a second public meeting next Thursday at noon. The city council will decide if the church can built the shelter at its meeting on July 28th.
This was the first of two public meetings. The church told the neighbors what they can expect and the neighbors voiced their concerns.
“I guess it went alright. There’s still some unanswered questions,” neighbor Ken Jones said.
Jones lives just a few blocks from the ministry center and the proposed homeless shelter.
“We own homes and we have families and children. We’re concerned about their safety as well as our property values,” Jones said.
He says his biggest concern is what will happen to the homeless that are turned away because of drug use.
“Where are they going to go?,” Jones asked, “Are they going to concentrate more on the side of downtown where the help is at?”
“We want people that are around us to be informed of what exactly we are wanting to do with the building behind us. It’s just sitting there,” executive director of the Ministry Center Scott Taylor said.
The church says this would be the first emergency homeless shelter in Faulkner County.
“There are some mid to long-term housing options, but there’s no immediate ‘Hey, I just got evicted and I’m on the street’ options available in Faulkner County,” Taylor said.
Jones believes there is a place for this center, but not in his back yard.
“That’s our concern, what the end result will be in our neighborhood, where we live” Jones said.
There is a second public meeting next Thursday at noon. The city council will decide if the church can built the shelter at its meeting on July 28th.