(La Porte, IN) - Plans for low-income housing for the homeless were approved by the La Porte City Council last night.
Housing Opportunties, a not-for-profit group with similar housing initiatives in La Porte, Michigan City, Valparaiso and Portage, will create 16 units inside the old Coca Cola bottling plant in the 200 block of Rumely Street.
There will be in-house services available to residents with medical, physical, mental health and substance abuse issues. Rent will be based on 30-percent of a resident’s income.
La Porte resident and former city councilperson Renee Scherer is against the plans. During the meeting, she talked about an encounter she had in downtown Michigan City with two men from a nearby homeless shelter.
Scherer doesn’t want that kind of behavior coming here especially in a neighborhood with children.
“I had two guys, homeless, follow me. They said hey, baby. You’re fine looking. I’d like to be your daddy. They just make rude comments. I had to go into a shop to get away from them. Just think what they would say to a child,” she said.
Many of the residents feel betrayed by their elected officials. Tammy Lorence said she will consider challenging the decision.
“I will continue my effort until the key goes into the lock. I don’t know what else to say except I’m feeling a little defeated,” she said.
Ron Clark and his wife, Margaret, have lived in the neighborhood for 40 years and fear the value of their property will now decrease, in spite of the significant investments they've made into their property.
Mr. Clark called the decision a slap in the face, claiming that decision-makers wouldn’t want such housing in their neighborhoods.
“They’d be fighting it just like we are,” he said.
Julie West is their city council person, who described going back and forth on her decision before voting to support it. She said her decision was based on the greater good of the community.
“This is not easy. I’ll probably go home tonight and not sleep very well because I know there’s going to be some people that will be upset with my vote as well. But, I do feel that I need to vote for what’s best for our community,” West said.
Officials pointed out Housing Opportunities will screen all applicants and not allow anyone with a history of violent crimes against people or sex offenders.
Mayor Tom Dermody said Housing Opportunities has a solid reputation for providing quality housing without much impact on crime. He said the plans will help ease demand for affordable housing locally.
“It’s going to be a fantastic addition. People are going to be safe. I understand the concerns and we’re going to make sure everything moves smoothly,” Dermody said.
Housing Opportunities will convert the structure into housing with a $7.5 million state grant.
Jordan Stanfill, CEO of the organization, said people must be homeless and have some sort of disability or substance abuse issue to qualify.
He said the facility could be open within 18-to-24 months.
Stanfill said almost every resident at other facilities have moved on to own or rent their next home or move in with families members because of the affordability and help that’s available to correct issues that led them into homelessness.
