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No new shelter beds

A City of Shelton hearing examiner rejected Community Lifeline's request to increase the number of beds at its homeless shelter from 35 to 50, saying the expansion would "add gasoline to a fire."

In his ruling released June 13, Terrence McCarthy said the Shelton-based nonprofit can apply again for an amendment to a conditional-use permit to add beds at the two-story brick building at 218 N. Third St. "once they reduce their negative impact upon their neighbors and the surrounding area."

At public hearings on Dec. 6, 2021, and May 16, neighbors complained about noise, garbage, vandalism, trespassing, intimidation and in the case of a next-door neighbor, assault.

"Once the applicant regains the support of their neighbors and has reduced their negative impact upon the surrounding neighbors, they may come back for another hearing to consider adding additional beds," McCarthy wrote in his ruling. "However, the current impact of 35 residents has too much of a negative impact on the neighbors and surrounding area."

In an interview with the Shelton-Mason County Journal, Community Lifeline homeless shelter manager Athena Ayres said the nonprofit's administration anticipated such a decision because of the "quality of life" concerns. She pointed out that that the homeless population in Mason County has increased by 129% in the past two years.

"Our capacity of 35 people is not enough," she said.

Ayres said the group needs a bigger building in a more "strategically" located area, and said Sequim and Olympia have such facilities. She said she is encouraged by City Manager Jeff Niten's formation of a homelessness task force, which meets for the first time June 28 and includes her.

The City of Shelton had recommended approving the amendment, with conditions that included requiring an on-site member or volunteer on the site and available by phone at all times.

The nearly two-hour hearing on Dec. 6 at the Shelton Civic Center included testimony from Community Lifeline board members and administrators, who described successes helping homeless people find housing, and the next-door neighbors, who described verbal and physical threats and assaults, garbage, drug and alcohol use, vandalism by shelter residents and a homeless man trying to poison their dog. McCarthy requested additional information.

At the second public hearing on May 16, next-door neighbor Roderick Whittaker said he was assaulted by two shelter residents.

"It's the same problems, just new management," he said. "It hasn't changed - it's gotten worse." He added, "The security there is absolutely worthless. Their staff has been assaulted ... I've been assaulted."

Whittaker said it is not Ayres' fault.

"It's the city's fault, it's the county's fault, it's the wrong place for that kind of facility," he said.

Doug Johnson has stayed at the shelter for the past year and said it's not the residents who are causing the trouble, but homeless people from Olympia, Tacoma, and Kelso-Longview who are passing through town and misbehaving outside the shelter.

The rules governing the shelter have changed over the past 16 years.

In February 2006, the City of Shelton hearing examiner approved a conditional-use permit authorizing a cold weather shelter. The shelter was allowed to open between Nov. 1 and April 30 on nights when the temperature was forecast to fall below 32 degrees. In October 2019, the city approved an amendment to the conditional use permit that allowed year-round occupancy following fire alarm and sprinkler upgrades.

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the Community Lifeline building transformed into a round-the-clock "low barrier" shelter that offers meals, showers, clothing, case management, peer support, job training and resource connection for people in need.

Author Bio

Gordon Weeks, Reporter

Shelton-Mason County Journal & Belfair Herald

 

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