Public comment at Tuesday’s Carbondale City Council meeting focused heavily on homelessness, with residents and local advocates urging the council to approve long-term housing solutions and to consider a rezoning and special-use permit that would allow Good Samaritan House to open a second location at University Baptist Church.

Speakers representing community organizations described direct services and needs. Carmelita Cahill, identifying herself as representing Carbondale United, told council the group handled more than 52 calls from community members in the previous month and provided services including transportation, court accompaniment and employment support. "We believe it's important that both the community and the city council understand the crucial role we play on a daily basis," Cahill said.

Other speakers asked the council for immediate policy changes and supports. Ede Arndell urged the city to adopt Housing First strategies and criticized the removal of tents and camps, saying money spent clearing camps could be diverted to housing. "Governments should invest in proven and humane solutions like Housing First," Arndell said. Eric Bucher, who identified himself as representing the homeless community, said a dumpster provided to help manage waste at a recently cleared encampment was removed after two weeks; he said he and others were then banned from the 600 block of East College. "Where do we go?" Bucher asked the council.

Speakers also described the recent city cleanup actions as forcible displacement. Macklyn Maklougui said he witnessed people "be forcibly displaced from their homes under threat of arrest, and then their homes were destroyed," and called the city to act more humanely.

Council discussion touched directly on the pending rezoning and special-use permit for Good Samaritan House’s proposed second location at University Baptist Church. Councilmember Michael Colombo said he had been actively engaging constituents and announced his opposition. "I'm a no vote, and I believe that there are not enough votes to advance the rezoning and the special use permit for the University Baptist Church to become the Good Samaritan House shelter," Colombo said. He encouraged affected residents and advocates to continue to attend meetings and voice their views.

Mayor Caroline Harvey and staff reminded the public that the rezoning and special-use matter was not on the city council agenda that night and that it will be considered first by the planning commission. The mayor and staff said the planning commission will meet on Oct. 29 and that public notice will be issued for that meeting. Council members and several public commenters urged a regional, coordinated approach to homelessness, calling for collaboration among nonprofits, faith communities, health providers and local governments.

No formal council vote on the rezoning or special-use permit was recorded at Tuesday’s meeting; the scheduling of the planning commission hearing means the issue will receive administrative review before any final council action.