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Residents urge year‑round shelter; council staff detail $6 million upgrade plan
Summary
A Bethlehem resident and others urged the council to create a year‑round emergency shelter; staff said converting the current temporary facility to year‑round operations would cost about $6 million, with $2 million secured and further public funding applications submitted.
During the public comment period on March 17, Amanda Childs, who identified herself as a member of Bethlehem’s unhoused community, urged the city to establish a year‑round emergency shelter and transitional housing. "I am here this evening to speak on behalf of the citizens of Bethlehem who are struggling with homelessness and housing instability," she said, and described safety risks faced by those living in encampments, including theft, assault and exposure to the elements.
Council members asked about zoning and capacity for the existing UCCC facility and whether it could be rezoned to permit year‑round operation. A city staff member explained that the current zoning allows the facility to operate only six months and under certain hours; converting it to year‑round service would likely require zoning relief such as a variance or a change in use designation. The staff member said converting the facility to year‑round operation is a capital project estimated at roughly $6 million; about $2 million has been secured and the city has assisted in submitting approximately $4.5 million in public‑funding applications, though officials do not expect all requested funding to be awarded.
The staff member said the transition requires not only capital upgrades to the physical facility but also increased operating capacity and staffing; the current model relies heavily on volunteer staffing and a full year‑round shelter would need paid staff and stable operating funds. The city representative said other efforts are also underway, including a fully funded Packer Avenue project that will provide 11 year‑round family units.
Council members and staff framed the shelter work as a regional challenge that will require coordination with county and state partners. The staff member said counties currently provide some funding for ongoing operations but not typically for large capital projects; council and staff described outreach to county executives and continued capital‑campaign efforts as part of the strategy.
Next steps cited in the meeting transcript: the city will continue work with operators to assemble capital funding, pursue zoning relief or variance if needed, and consider regional partnerships to support long‑term operations.
