Post by rops53 on Jun 15, 2015 11:33:05 GMT -5
Is everyone aware of the proposed homeless shelter to be located on the Cross Island Trail? The following was posted on my Facebook timeline and it has been in the news:
"With over $2 million in state and federal taxpayer dollars, Queen Anne's County plans to build an 8,623 square foot homeless facility at the entrance to the Cross-Island Trail and the Old Love Point Park recreation area.
Also located within a quick walk are the thousands of students at Bayside Elementary School, Kent Island Elementary School, Stevensville Middle School, Kent Island High School, Shine Like Stars Preschool and four daycare facilities. Thousands of schoolchildren from Kent Island, Grasonville and Queenstown will be affected and need us to speak up for their security and freedom of movement.
The shelter property abuts the Stevensville National Historic District and is at a dead-end with no road markings or sidewalks. The school board, sports leagues, trail users, businesses and homeowners were not appropriately consulted or informed prior to approval of this project.
The county plan calls for 20 traditional nightly bunks, along with 24 beds for transitional living. Because it will invite an itinerant homeless population to an area specificially intended for for public educational, recreational and residential use - but not services such as jobs, heallthcare, food and adult education - numerous homeless advocates, mental health and law enforcement experts see this location as a terrible mistake for everyone.
According to the US Census bureau, about 80% of the poverty in Queen Anne's County is east of Kent Island. According to the State of Maryland, only 1% of the state's homeless are located in five mid-shore counties combined. The state also 23% of our homeless are severely mentally ill and 19% are chronic substance abusers - yet our representatives have decided to invite these issues to the middle of Kent Island's public education and recreation complex?
325 State Street may have looked perfect on a zoning map, but in reality is a disastrous choice for the citizens it is intended to serve.
Let's unite as a community and urge our county, Haven Ministries and affiliated churches to find a more suitable location that will benefit everyone."
There is a meeting scheduled for this evening in protest.
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