What Are They Hiding?

Save Our Stevensville Demands State, County Records Ahead of Public Meeting On Controversial New Homeless Shelter

Stevensville, Tuesday August 19 - Save Our Stevensville has asked the Maryland Attorney General’s Office to make public all records pertaining to the new Queen Anne’s County homeless shelter and transitional housing facility planned for 325 State St. in Stevensville.

The 8,623-square-foot structure will have space for 20 emergency overnight beds and eight transitional living beds. The Queen Anne’s County Board of Commissioners has approved several state grant applications funding the project. On August 1, Save Our Stevensville filed a similar information request with Queen Anne’s County and as of this writing still awaits a response.

According to SOS spokesman Mike Ranelli, “With a public meeting next Monday - even though the facility was designed last year and approved last April - all county citizens deserve to know why it’s a good idea to build a large shelter on the Cross-Island Trail, next to Old Love Point Park, and so near Kent Island’s schools.”

SOS filed three Maryland Public Information Act (PIA) requests referencing several grants, including Community Development Block Grants, awarded between 2009 and 2012. Requests were made of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland General Assembly, to include any related correspondence between state and county legislators.

A third PIA request was filed to obtain Maryland Transportation Authority records regarding state funds for the expansion of County Ride, Queen Anne’s County’s bus service. At a 2012 meeting for potential shelter architects, county officials stated that homeless clients will arrive at the shelter via County Ride. According to the county, buses operate not only fixed routes, but also “demand response service open to everyone,” and will shortly begin serving Annapolis. According to theBay Times, “County Ride was recently notified by the Maryland Transit Administration that grant funding has become available for just such a service.”

The most recent Maryland Report on Homelessness shows that in January 2013, there were 87 homeless persons, or 1% of state’s total, in Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Kent, Caroline and Dorchester combined.

“While much of our community is involved in charitable ministries, we still need to understand how this site is best for our county’s own homeless.” Ranelli said. He added “The distance from 325 State St. to impoverished areas, health services, adult education and jobs could be less than ideal for them as well.”

Because the county may break ground shortly, SOS requested a waiver of PIA fees. “Citizens have been reaching out to our representatives without satisfactory response. What are they hiding? People are just stunned that local input was not sought before placing this facility in such a uniquely problematic location,” Ranelli said. “It may look great on a zoning map, but the reality on the ground is far different.”

A public meeting will take place on Monday, August 25 from 6-8 pm at the Percy Thomas Senior Center, 891 Love Point Rd. in Stevensville. Citizens may speak for 3 minutes each. “Although the meeting is on the first day of school, we’ve heard that concerned Stevensville, Chester and Grasonville families will make every effort to attend.”

Save Our Stevensville is a group of citizens preserving community appeal and ensuring the public is well-informed. For info visit Save Our Stevensville on Facebook, or email saveourstevensville@gmail.com. Stevensville, located at the foot of the Bay Bridge on Kent Island in Queen Anne’s County, has a population of over 12,000 and a poverty level of 2.7%, compared to the the county’s 7.4% and Maryland’s 9.4% (source: US Census Bureau) The town was founded in 1850 and contains roughly 100 historic structures, many within a National Historic District adjacent to the county’s shelter site.