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Rock Island mayor, residents press options for winter shelter after ordinance pulled from agenda
Summary
Residents, service providers and the mayor met at a Ward 3 listening session after Alderwoman Linda Barnes requested the city suspend a social-service ordinance to allow a low-barrier winter shelter. Mayor Harris removed the ordinance from the next regular agenda and said a vote would follow within 48 hours once a site or agreement is secured.
Alderwoman Linda Barnes convened a Ward 3 listening session to gather community reaction to her request to suspend Rock Island's social-service ordinance so the city could more quickly host a low-barrier temporary winter shelter.
The meeting drew residents with lived experience, volunteers and service providers, and a presentation from Leslie Kilganick, director of the Quad Cities Housing Council. Barnes opened the meeting saying the immediate need was "a low barrier temporary winter shelter," and described personal family experience with mental illness and addiction to explain why she brought the request.
Mayor Harris acknowledged the political sensitivity of the issue but said he was actively searching the city for locations outside the concentrated downtown service area and reaching out to neighboring communities. "We don't want Rock Island to be the only ones doing things for the homeless," he said, noting regulatory limits, privately…
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