Homeless shelter
By Thoroughrob
@Thoroughrob (11742)
United States
January 24, 2007 10:10pm CST
We live in a small town. A man here went to the city and asked about buying a house and starting a homeless shelter, as we do not have one. He asked what the regulations would be and if there was any laws or zoning rules that would stop it. The City was all for it, nothing was a problem. There was nothing that had to be done.
It was to open this week. With the weather being so cold this week, it was really needed. Needless to say, it hasn't opened. They let this guy buy the house, get everything ready and now have decided there are other things that need done. It now has to fall under a "group home." It has to follow those rules, which means putting in sprinklers all over the house, making it handicap accessible, putting in a fire escape, and some other small things. The guy doesn't have the money to make all the extra improvements. It is sad. If they were going to step in, why didn't they do it before he bought the house? They ok'd it!! It is not a place for them to live. It is a place to sleep and get a shower. The city is so crooked, you can't believe anything they tell you.
11 people like this
21 responses
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Well government red tape can be a pain in the neck, but I can see how those things would be pretty important. Considering the urgency of the situation, though, maybe he should work on getting donations or whatever he needs to be able to make it an official shelter and in the meantime just call it his house where he sometimes allows many "friends" to stay overnight. :)
4 people like this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
25 Jan 07
It was on the front of the paper, maybe someone or a business will donate to get the things done. He should do that, that is a good idea.
2 people like this
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I swear, I had not seen your response before I responded! :)
I have notify on and get discussions straight from my email. LOL
But I am glad to see that I am not the only one that had this idea of have "friends" stay the night. :)
3 people like this
@nw1911guy (1131)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I did the same straight from email thing.
2 people like this
@dreamsaving (49)
• United States
25 Jan 07
It would be nice if the residents in the community banded together and took in donations to give the man the money needed to continue his good deeds.
3 people like this
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I was also going to suggest that he share his story with the local newspaper in hopes for donations. A lot of times local churches and even large companies will offer donations if he gets the proper tax credit forms to give them so that they can write it off as 'charitable donations'. They are basic forms that he can fill in the amount and date and hand them like a reciept. I've recieved them for giving to charity but I'm not sure how to aquire them for personal charities.
He may be suprised by the community's interest in wanting to become involved in something so generous and much needed!
1 person likes this
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Maybe he should do it anyways.
If he lived in the home he bought, he would open his door to anyone that wanted or needed to stay the night. He would not put the title on the house saying it is a shelter...but he could just say that he met some new friends that needed a place to stay for the night.
Its not as if none of us have never had friends stay for the night here and there.
Heck, I have had some guests stay for a few weeks!
But then, that would give him time to raise the money to make the changing and he would still be helping those that need it during this cold winter....just an idea. :)
2 people like this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
26 Jan 07
Sounds ikea good idea to me. It just looks like the city would have to work with him.
1 person likes this
@cwgrlsarefun (1581)
• United States
25 Jan 07
This is horrible. The guy had a great idea and good intentions. It seems to me that they should of had to tell him from the start or let him just open and give him a time limit as when to have this stuff done. I don't think that it is fair that they can change their minds all the time and we the little people can not do anything about it all. I would also see if he could take it to a higher up, maybe the county or state and explain what happend and what is going on. I would also see if he could do something to earn some money to make the small repairs, or see if different business would like to donate things to help him out. They could always use it as tax write off and it would help him out. It is a bad time of year but maybe a car wash or bake sale to help earn some money for the repairs. It seems that since most is minor it would not take much. Churches are always willing to help in these situations also. A few phone calls might just get things moving for him.
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I totally support the man trying to do some good for the city and the homeless. I can't believe the city building or zoning department did not inform this man of the changes he would have to make. This is one reason people grow to distrust the government.
Maybe he can take the city to court. The city should have inspected the property before hand and told this man what improvements would be needed. If he has something in writing, he may be able to go to court. The city is totally at fault for misleading this man.
There are others that want to help the poor and homeless. But when you see a story like this one, you have to wonder which side the government is on. It makes it difficult for the next guy to trust the government to do the right thing. What country was this in?
3 people like this
@lifeiseasy (2292)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Since he asked what the rules and regulations were he should have been able to open , then as new laws came up he had a certain amount of time to comply with out being in violation. It may be just one person it the city hall doesn't want the homeless shelter. Doesn't mean they are all crooked. Keep the faith...
2 people like this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I also think they should give him time to get all these things done. They are the ones that gave him the ok in the first place. I'm sure someone put up a stink about it and started all the mess.
1 person likes this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
25 Jan 07
Well, I can see how it would need to have improvements done, because a lot of different people going in and out of the house would need more safety regulating than one family who would have less people, perhaps.
But the government should have let him know beforehand, or thought about it more before they ok'd it.
Maybe people in the area can donate time/money to help this guy.
2 people like this
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
25 Jan 07
It's so sa hen people try to do something good and noble for others less fortunate that city officials have to step in and ruin it. I don't think that any of the updates that they are telling him to make are unreasonable, in fact I think they're really reasonable ... but to tell him after the fact is just ridiculous!
@albert2412 (1782)
• United States
28 Jan 07
What you said about the homeless shelter really made me wonder. Every city of any real size needs a shelter for the poor to sleep out of the cold. Why do you think that the city leaders suddlenly put all of these new building restrictions on the homeless shelter? Are any of the city leaders involved in construction and want a little extra work?
@nw1911guy (1131)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I think he should go to the media and make it known to them what is going on. They should have said something up front.
2 people like this
@jeb083079 (839)
• Philippines
25 Jan 07
maybe the city saw the potential earnings for this one or maybe they're looking at it in a positive way by making the "homeless shelter" to have enough security for people who will live there. let's just look at it in a positive way, who knows, the city might be able to produce the money to make the extra improvements for the house. let's pray for a positive output for this and update us about this also. God bless.
@katty0004 (386)
• United States
25 Jan 07
who paid for the city or the man , if the did he can do what he wants I would think , sounds about like our small town , they our so greedy it awful.
2 people like this
@randomosity_prevails (1112)
•
25 Jan 07
I agree, this is really harsh of the city to do that. I can see why they have done it, because of health and safety laws, but it is a little unnecessary if people won't actually be living there. Surely it would be easier to just allow a few people at a time to stay there, and class it as a normal family home. I don't know, but it seems very unfair.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
27 Jan 07
This is Sad. To think they would OK it, and then do something like this. I have lived in a home before that was turned into a shelter, and I know they did not have all of these things, so maybe it is different from area to area, or back then things were different. Sounds like what he might need to do is go around asking for Donations from concerned citizens, and such. I know this has always been something I would Love to do as well if I ever had the Money. I feel it should be a right not a hinderance to want to help the homeless and help get them back on their feet if you can.
@sharon613 (2321)
• United States
26 Jan 07
About a month ago They had a big event taking place here in my city to help the homeless. I went down being curious if I could find affordable housing from these so called agency's. Instead of helping, they asked would you like to take a shower with us today?
1 person likes this
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
27 Jan 07
That's just so crappy!!
What the hell is it to them if he provides a place for ppl to sleep and shower?
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
27 Jan 07
Sounds like a typical government plan... string them along, make as much money as you can off them, make their life difficult and IF it finally takes off and is a great success you can probably figure on SOME politician standing in front of the camera all proud of "what we've done"!
Sad indeed!
1 person likes this
@suedarr (2382)
• Canada
5 Feb 07
It is so nice to read that there are caring and compassionate people like this man out there. What a terrific idea! I ust read through your update and commented there as well. It's great to read the follow-up and hear how others banded together and helped this man achieve his goals to assist the homeless. Awesome!
1 person likes this
@jbones32103 (717)
• United States
25 Jan 07
That's terrible for them to treat this man this way. Maybe he needs to get a free advice conversation from an attorney and just don't mention any names. Or maybe the people who support this could do something about it. Good luck, but if possible tell this man he's in my prayers for this place to be opened.
2 people like this
