Homeless shelter proponents, opponents speak

More than 100 people gathered at Galileo Magnet High School Thursday night to express support — or disapproval — of House of Hope’s new homeless shelter location next to the school.

The shelter recently relocated from its Claiborne Street site. Its new Ridge Street address has been the cause of dissention, despite the fact that it’s permitted by city code.

Jason Gibson, a teacher at Galileo, said the placement of the shelter next to the school was a poor decision, but he was particularly angry at what he called a “lack of transparency,” with the shelter making the move without asking for any input from school officials, teachers or students.

Catherine Mize, who has watched one child graduate from Galileo, expects to send another one there next year and has an 11-year-old she hopes will also attend the school one day. She said she feels locating the homeless shelter next to the school gives a poor impression.

Mize also said House of Hope’s location could send a negative message to businesses interested in moving to Danville, undermining progress already made.

Her 11-year-old son, John Mize, also said he was against the location because a school’s environment should be about learning and safety, and suggested putting something in House of Hope’s new home that would bring jobs and people to Danville.

Kerry Hairston, however, told the crowd to “walk a mile in my shoes.”

Hairston said she volunteers at House of Hope every Saturday, taking meals to the guests — but said she once was homeless herself after losing a job.

“Love thy neighbor as thyself,” she told the crowd.

Clarnetta Tarpley said she lives on Claiborne Street and volunteers at the shelter every Saturday.

“We are all human beings,” she said. “This (the location of the shelter) shouldn’t be an issue.”

Some business owners expressed concerns about the shelter attracting more panhandlers to the area, and Steve Salamon, owner of Bronx Boy Bagels, said he was concerned about people who get turned away from the shelter.

The House of Hope insists on have background checks done on all its guests, and the Danville Police Department makes sure they are not wanted anywhere in the country. The shelter itself makes sure they are not on any convicted sex offender lists.

Anyone who doesn’t pass those checks is not allowed to stay at House of Hope.

Danville City Councilman Fred Shanks said downtown business owners are not opposed to the homeless ministry, but felt left out of the decision-making process.

“We wanted to be part of the solution,” Shanks, who also has a business downtown, said. “It’s important to protect the school and the investments people have made downtown.”

At the end of the forum, the Rev. Donnie Anderson, pastor of RiverOak Church of God and president of House of Hope’s board of directors, thanked everyone for being civil and “very clear” about their objections or support.

He reiterated the ministry’s plan to be part of the community.

“We are partners with you now in the revitalization of the community,” Anderson said.

The Rev. Stephen Cook, pastor of First Baptist Church and vice president of House of Hope’s board, said he understands there is not “complete unity” on the subject as yet, but felt the two sides to the issue had connected and would “take that which is broken and put it back together.”