The Greensboro City Council will consider a number of funding requests for housing the homeless population in the city during the winter at the Tuesday, Nov. 15 meeting in the Katie Dorsett Council Chamber beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Two new projects that were discussed by the City Council in October are on the agenda for additional funding. In October the City Council voted to spend $535,000 to purchase 40 pallet shelters for the Doorway Project. The pallet shelters are 8 feet by 8 feet providing 64 square feet of living space for two people. The shelters are heated and air-conditioned but have no plumbing. According to Housing and Neighborhood Development Director Michelle Kennedy, two-bathroom facilities each with two showers, two sinks and two toilets at a cost of $100,000 each would be provided for the 40 pallet shelters.
The agenda for the Nov. 15 meeting lists $200,000 for the Doorway Project for a contract with the Interactive Resource Center (IRC) to provide “security/case/site management.” Kennedy, before accepting the job with the city, was the executive director of the IRC. According to the agenda, the IRC was the only agency that submitted an application for the contract during the 10 days the application process was open.
At the October City Council meeting Kennedy said that the Doorway Project would need about a one quarter-acre lot for the 40 pallet shelters and bathroom facilities.
However, the City Council was not told where the pallet homes would be placed and as of last week still had not been told.
So far the cost of the Doorway Project to house 80 homeless people appears to be close to $1 million. If the figures quoted at the October council meeting are correct that would be $535,000 to purchase the homes, $200,000 for bathroom facilities and $200,000 for security and case management for a total of $935,000. That figure does not include any cost for the lease or purchase of the one quarter acre lot.
The agenda also includes $184,000 for “security/case/site management” for the Safe Parking project. This is another contract with IRC to provide a secure parking lot for people who are living in their cars. The location of this parking lot has not been announced.
People. That comes to about $28000.00 a home. Does that sound like a deal to you?
It does not to me. Just another throw money at it and it will go away.
28k? Could buy a nice mobile home for that!
But it would not pay lot rent and utilities nor would it stop the NIMBUS from screaming about having ‘those kind of people’ for neighbors when they learned the source of the homes.
I’m agreed, that sounds like bunch of people are getting money just for been there, how that was the only company that have the opportunity?
Where is the cost of permitting the whole project not to mention the cost of the electrical hookups as well as the cost of the water and sewer connections. I’d also like to see the plas because in Greensboro all projects have to have plans approved by the planning and zoning as well as being approved by the inspection department and fire marshal Homeless shelters or not as the city has told me “Rules are Rules”
So lets through in another $75,000 for the 1/4 acre lot. That makes the total $1,010,000 for 80 people. That equates to $12,625 per person. This seems to be a lot of money for people who do not want to live in a structure. I understand why it has to be heated, but air conditioned? Are you serious? Does the City of Greensboro’s council have any brain power at all?
The Government way, everyone makes money and then brag how compassionate they are. One more black eye for Greensboro
What a waste of Money. Only the Greensboro. It’s council would pay almost a million dollars for basically slme storage sheds you can get Home Depot. Which council members are getting rich of this boondoggle
Reminded me of cure the violence program
Wow, I’m not homeless, just speechless.
This is simply ridiculous! There are much less expensive ways to house these people.
The will be a bonanza for whoever wins the construction contract.
Build it, and they will come. Lots of them.
Only the Democrats could come up with a total wasteful program of taxpayers money. The city council is nothing but a monster enabler. One million bucks…poof…pixie dust. Your next slum and drug den in the making. Keep on raising the taxes on people who have chosen to work, save and be sufficient. You can give no reason that will make any sense to continue to enable these people. This council is a continued SNAFU. You voted them in….enjoy the waste.
Aren’t there already homeless shelters in Greensboro? What am I missing here?
I saw today stackable housing , pretty luxurious but could be restructured for best use, including bathroom. Maybe shipping containers, repurpose structurally sound. Check other city’s solutions. Not stupid pallet housing for two.
I would think we have an empty building downtown or east greensboro, where ever it’s needed that can be converted to house and sh1t, shower, shave, 80 or more people for less money. Use our neglected buildings around town. Forget pallet housing.
I totally agree. There is an empty bldg on Florida and Lee…has everything already…add showers, put up walls/dividers even parking lot for safe parking. Add fence..security..just saying
It does seem like many practical cost of this proposal are not being considered, especially electrical & water /sewer. However, has anyone else gone to the city council with an alternative plan? I agree we could get a lot more effective use of these funds to address the problem.
How about the city stop throwing money at ridiculous publicity stunts and actually does small practical things like stop locking public restrooms downtown (everywhere) overnight and lifting restrictions on churches and charities thar would shelter folks if local ordinances and red tape would be lifted. The way the system is set up is to funnel money and folks to “approved” facilities and city partners (money).
Our city council just wants folks relocated away from their Performance Art Palace so they can attend Les Mis with out seeing actual folks struggling.
If there is a belief in free will, then leave the homeless alone. Leave them to their own devices. Provide only porta potties for sanitary purposes. Otherwise, let them live as they choose. City Council wants them out of sight. I do not believe City Council members care at what means or how expensive, just make the homeless invisible. How many homeless are there? Are crimes committed by the homeless? Are they illegal drug users? If so, arrest the suppliers. It is doubtless that City Council is trying to find a solution to the homeless because the Council is concerned about the homeless’ well-being but rather an attempt to rid Greensboro of what they and others view as an eyesore.
Will there be a contest to name this instant mini ghetto? I submit: Needleboro. .
I think something along the line of the model
NYC put up, for illegals, and is now taking down.
That was one plush tent.. maybe you could buy
that!