Henry County hears community plea on downtown homelessness; Compass Health outlines services
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Summary
At a Henry County Commission meeting, business owners and service providers urged coordinated action on homelessness. Compass Health described voluntary outreach, crisis response and housing placements; volunteers with Project Thomas said they have local capacity but urged a targeted facility and noted zoning obstacles for reusing the old jail.
Business owners, local volunteers and behavioral-health providers told the Henry County Commission on a lengthy public-comment period that downtown homelessness is an ongoing local concern and urged a coordinated response.
Amanda, a business owner who said she had attended a nearby city council meeting, told commissioners she did not believe the old county jail was a suitable site for a homeless shelter and raised several public-safety and contamination concerns. "I do not believe that the old jail is a good option for the homeless shelter," she said during public comment.
Representatives from Compass Health described the agency’s local programs and disputed a common claim about its role. A Compass Health representative said, "All of our programs are voluntary," and explained the organization provides community psychiatric rehabilitation, housing coordination, substance-use services, crisis response via a 24/7 mobile crisis team and hospital follow-up for up to six months after an incident. The representative acknowledged past periods when patients left programs against medical advice but said staff work to arrange transportation and family contact to avoid leaving people unsheltered.
Housing liaison Sandy Cutting said Compass and local partners have moved several people into housing: "We have gotten housing for them," she said, noting shelter and warming-center placements and outreach to seniors and other vulnerable residents. Project Thomas volunteers and warming-center organizers described operating volunteer-led services and said they have placed people into housing and provided meals, transportation for showers and laundry, and short-term warming shelter when available. A Project Thomas representative, Darren, emphasized the group is larger than any single leader: "Darren is our chairman ... There are eight members of that board and volunteers," he said, asking that credit be shared among partners.
Commissioners and staff discussed next steps. Several said rezoning and neighborhood concerns make immediate use of the old jail complicated; one commissioner explained rezoning would require notices to property owners within a specified radius and reviews by Planning and Zoning, Public Safety and Public Works. Commissioners proposed a targeted public forum and a multi-agency meeting with Compass Health, Project Thomas, Golden Valley Health and downtown business owners to gather facts and explore options.
The meeting did not produce a formal vote or a decision to transfer property. Commissioners directed staff to investigate possible buildings and zoning implications and to convene a joint meeting with city partners and service providers to identify feasible locations and a path forward.