THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 26, 1997 TAG: 9701240034
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 59 lines
Virginia Beach has been chewing on two proposals to spend $800,000 of federal funds on its homeless population.
Both plans are flawed.
Fortunately, City Council now has a third option which will be unveiled - and hopefully approved - at Tuesday's council meeting.
First, the imperfect solutions: one was to award the money to the existing Judeo-Christian Outreach Center for a new shelter. Run by Dick Powell, this soup kitchen and shelter has been a redemptive fixture in the 17th Street corridor, helping those who are down on their luck but want to turn their lives around.
Powell proposed using the $800,000 to build a second shelter on 15th Street near Parks Avenue.
Unfortunately, a portion of this property is in a so-called AICUZ zone. AICUZ is an acronym for Air Impact Compatible Use Zone, and is designated by the Navy as an area incompatible with high-density housing since it is either in the crash or high-noise zone.
With expansion under way at Oceana, council has adopted AICUZ regulations and pledged to the Navy to try to honor its request to restrict construction in those areas. This was the impetus to relocate Seatack and Linkhorn Park Elementary schools.
The second alternative before council was to award the money to the Winter Shelter Task Force - an alliance of churches and synagogues housing the homeless during the six coldest months of the year. The Task Force proposed purchasing a small house, renovating it and using it as a day center.
This proposal would have placed the center in either the Birdneck or London Bridge residential neighborhoods, where it was certain to meet serious opposition.
The third option is so appealing that we are able to endorse it without reservation. On Tuesday the City Council will be presented with an ordinance allowing the city manager to build a facility in the new Beach Borough Services Center on Washington Avenue off 17th Street - beside the new police station.
The city would own the building but award a contract to another group to operate a day service center where the homeless could shower, wash their clothes, receive job counseling, get mail, prepare resumes and make contact for other city services. In other words, this would be a convenient clearinghouse for the city's homeless.
During the Winter Shelter months the center would also be a pick-up location for those sleeping in churches to escape the elements. (Presently the homeless must find their way to a pick-up point near the intersection of First Colonial Road and 17th Street.)
This location is ideal. It is part of a municipal complex housing fire, rescue and police departments. Its proximity to the 2nd Precinct should assuage fears for public safety in the nearby community.
This proposal would also award $50,000 to the Judeo-Christian Outreach program for the completion of its education center, and another $50,000 to be used for transportation associated with the new center.
This city-owned day service center would be a good use of public funds. We urge council to approve it quickly so that the money, which was allocated in 1995, can begin helping the homeless population as soon as possible.