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Council hears worries over Martin Luther King Center use as warming center or shelter
Summary
Council members and community speakers raised safety and supervision concerns about proposals to use the Martin Luther King Center overnight for people experiencing homelessness; Pastor Jones urged church collaboration and described risks to people unsheltered if no action is taken.
Residents and council members on Oct. 28 raised questions about whether the Martin Luther King Center could be used overnight as a warming center or for short‑term sheltering and who would supervise and screen occupants.
Mr. Walker said constituents were concerned about mixing youth programs and overnight sheltering at the center and asked whether background checks or supervision plans would be in place. Mr. Mayo and others clarified that no formal decision had been made to convert the center into a daily shelter and suggested limited emergency use (for extreme weather) was more likely.
Pastor Jones, who said he has ministered at a homeless shelter for five or six years, urged churches to collaborate and cautioned that rumors were spreading that needed clarification: "There needs to be some clarity and some truth that's told ... because this is going to be a very bad" situation if left unaddressed. He noted that shelters serve women and children and that some residents have criminal histories, stressing the need for organized oversight.
Council and staff discussed regional service gaps after Urban Missions closed, and Mr. Albaugh and others said neighboring jurisdictions share responsibility for regional shelter needs. Mr. Mayo said he would seek to convene a Safety Committee meeting and invite State Senator Michelle Reynolds to discuss options and next steps.
