Pioneer Editorial: Shelter will help the homeless

Efforts to help the homeless in Bemidji took a great stride forward last week when a local planning board approved a permit for a winter-only homeless shelter downtown.
The 16-bed facility in what is now the Headwaters Unitarian Universalist Fellowship church at the corner of Sixth Street and American Avenue Northwest should be open by Nov. 1, members of the Nameless Coalition for the Homeless hope, and will be run overnights through April. The church is in the process of moving.
The past few years have seen several outdoor deaths associated with the chronic homelessness problem in Bemidji, especially during winter. Having another facility or program to help the homeless can hopefully prevent additional tragedy.
Already, the Peoples Church, the Village of Hope and the Servants of Shelter program (where various churches rotate housing overnight guests) do their best to put a roof over the heads of homeless people in our area.
But clearly, even after all they do, there obviously is still a need in Beltrami County, which, we know, has the highest rate of poverty in the state.
There’s also the issue that many homeless suffer from addiction problems, such as alcoholism, or suffer from mental health problems. Dealing with these issues can be complex.
We know concerns were raised by some neighbors of the future shelter; that the location near the library, some businesses and a learning center was not the best choice. They are right to raise those concerns, and to make sure city officials and shelter organizers are held accountable in addressing those concerns.
To that end, the planning board rightly put in various requirements for the new shelter, such as six-month and annual reviews, fencing in the area at the back of the shelter, as well as making sure policies and procedures are reviewed and put in place.
The location in the soon-to-be vacant church is a good location. Many of the homeless spend their time downtown; it is where many of the social service agencies are located, as well as law enforcement.
There have also been some concerns raised about possible duplication of efforts with other local shelters. Many of these organizations rely on donations and grant funding, and if they are all seeking the same donations and grants, there may not be enough to go around. We hope that’s not the case.
City Center Housing, based in Duluth, is also working to build a 60-unit, nonprofit housing development complex near the old Soo Line Rail corridor off downtown to help serve the homeless and the chronic inebriate population. That facility may take years to fund and build, and the former church shelter will help fill the gap until it is constructed.
There is a need. This helps address that need.