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Presenter outlines plan for 24/7 low‑barrier shelter for 400–500 people on 11th Street
Summary
A presenter known as Baron asked the mayor’s office for capital funding to convert or build a 24/7 low‑barrier shelter that could house roughly 400–500 people; council members pressed him on costs, safety, community outreach and whether the site would worsen neighborhood sanitation.
Baron proposed building a 24/7 low‑barrier shelter at an 11th Street location and told the council the city’s unsheltered share of its homeless population is about 68%, far higher than other metro areas."When somebody is sheltered but homeless, it takes approximately or on average 400 days to get rehoused. But when somebody becomes unsheltered, that number skyrockets to an average of 7 years," Baron said, urging a shelter that would shorten time spent unhoused.
Baron described three site options he presented to the mayor’s office: a warehouse at 12th and Peebles, a city‑owned lot that had hosted a sanctioned encampment, and building on the presenter’s own existing footprint. He said architectural work is under way and described a plan to convert a large subterranean basement and add two floors to yield dormitory space for about 400–500 people without changing the building’s street appearance. He said his initial capital ask to the mayor’s office was $2,800,000 and that he aims to provide an operational plan and budget in early September.
Council members questioned the plan’s details. Councilwoman Burris asked whether the operating estimate of about $750,000 annually was realistic; Baron said earlier estimates for a converted bus barn ran closer to $930,000 but that his group hopes to operate nearer $750,000 if built on their site. Councilwoman Hill and others raised concerns about concentrating 400–500 people in a single location and whether the organization could maintain sanitation and safety on the block.
Baron said the shelter would be fully staffed and would pair the low‑barrier dormitory with on‑site case management, workforce navigation and other supportive services and that men and women would be housed on separate floors with controlled access and security. He also said his group has begun outreach and added an MLK neighborhood resident to its board; several council members asked for more community engagement before the proposal proceeds to the mayor’s office.
The council did not take action; members asked for a written operational plan, a detailed budget, and commitments on community outreach and promised to circulate additional questions ahead of a follow‑up presentation.
