* The $2.7 million, 44-bed Queen Anne's County AC Homeless Shelter Project by Kent Island’s four schools, park, and trail is pending approval by the Maryland Secretary of Housing. It will then be sent to the BPW. It is to be paid for almost entirely by the Maryland Dept of Housing, using state and federal funds.
* As details emerge, a growing number of citizens are concerned, and a petition has drawn hundreds of signatures
* Commissioner Robert Buckey has said that he supports a homeless shelter, but that it needs to be relocated away from Kent Island schools. He states that donors have come forward to assist the county.
* Meanwhile, other commissioners and state representatives remain silent, even as the county's ongoing campaign of disinformation is exposed. email saveourstevensville@gmail.com for more background and documents.
"We've been totally transparent and have cut no corners." - QAC Commission President Jim Moran 8/20/14
Half Truths vs. Hard Facts
Haven Ministries "Fact" Sheet: “Transitional home has operated over 3 years at the exact same location…”
REAL FACTS:
The existing 1248 sq. ft. ranch home was used by women and children only, as a transitional shelter (2 months to 2 years.)
It will be demolished and replaced by an 8,623 sf, two-story facility for single men, as well as women and children. Up to 20 per-night homeless bunks and up to 24 transitional homeless bunks. The overnight-only shelter, to be relocated from Chester, will be closed from 7 am to 6 pm - source: QAC grant applications
It will be demolished and replaced by an 8,623 sf, two-story facility for single men, as well as women and children. Up to 20 per-night homeless bunks and up to 24 transitional homeless bunks. The overnight-only shelter, to be relocated from Chester, will be closed from 7 am to 6 pm - source: QAC grant applications
The county always intended to build an emergency overnight shelter with a future transitional facility. Not until five months after the property was purchased was it decided to renovate the home for temporary use by a family until construction funds could be obtained for a brand new building. - source: QAC grant applications and emails
Haven Ministries "Fact" Sheet: “Do not transport clients from other shelters”
REAL FACTS:
“Through...five-county Departments of Social Services, and various mental health and housing agencies, we will receive additional referrals" "Chesapeake HELPS! is an excellent resource for the five-county area...and will direct callers to the Transitional/Homeless shelter" - QAC grant application
“...Our Haven Shelter, an emergency shelter....and Our Haven Home....a transitional housing program. These programs are invaluable to Queen Anne's County and the entire Eastern Shore.” -letter from Mid-Shore Roundtable on Homelessness
“Before moving to the Eastern Shore I was living in Baltimore MD…” - letter from former State St. transitional shelter client
Haven Ministries "Fact" Sheet: “Strict screening process includes criminal background check, sex offenders registry, breathalyzer and drug testing”
REAL FACTS:
“Photo ID should be shown. Can still be admitted without photo ID.” - Haven Ministries Volunteer and Training Information
"70% of the homeless people we encounter do not have ID..." - Haven Ministries facebook graphic 2/24/15
“The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability…” “Addicts are individuals with disabilities protected by the Act.” “Disability means...Any mental or psychological disorder.” - US Department of Justice
A 2013 report shows 15 substance abusers and 13 severely mentally ill were served at the KIUMC shelter - QAC grant applications
23% of mid-shore homeless suffer from serious mental illness, and 19% are chronic substance abusers. - MD Report on Homelessness
Maryland has no residency restrictions on sex offenders. In 2010 there were 189 homeless, registered sex offenders - MD Dept of Safety
“Homeless sex offenders and sex offenders moving across states often slip through the cracks of registration systems and create a burdensome tracking challenge for law enforcement agencies” - International Association of Chiefs of Police
“A federal judge has ruled that homeless sex offenders may stay overnight at shelters near schools in Grand Rapids despite a state law prohibiting them from living within 1,000 feet of a school after determining that homeless people do not ‘reside’ in emergency shelters if they only go there at night to sleep…” - Associated Press
Haven Ministries "Fact" Sheet: “Dozens of youth have served at the shelter without incident...No safety issues with any QAC School.”
REAL FACTS:
“...hours of operation are 6pm-7am seven days a week. These hours will remain for the new facility.” - QAC grant application
Fact: The overnight shelter has not been near QAC schools. 325 State St. has only been a transitional shelter for women and children. The new building is for up to 20 overnight-only homeless (including men) and up to 24 transitional homeless.
Fact: Haven Ministries has no control over homeless clients between 7am-6pm when they are outside the shelter
Haven Ministries "Fact" Sheet: “The site selection process was rigorous, carefully planned and with full transparency”
REAL FACTS:
7/3/2008 - County takes interest in 325 State St., learns no zoning hearing or appeals will be involved
Fall 2008 - county identifies 325 State St, meets with owners, values property at $270,000 (QAC emails)
4/2/09 - “The house is located at 325 State Street in Stevensville” (internal county memo)
5/7/09 - Notice of public hearing appears in Easton Star-Democrat, lists no city or street for proposed homeless shelter
Fall 2008 - county identifies 325 State St, meets with owners, values property at $270,000 (QAC emails)
4/2/09 - “The house is located at 325 State Street in Stevensville” (internal county memo)
5/7/09 - Notice of public hearing appears in Easton Star-Democrat, lists no city or street for proposed homeless shelter
5/12/09 - “The site hasn’t been determined” - QAC Housing tells public during public hearing
Late May 09 - Sales agreement for $338,000 signed, and QAC asks state for funds specific to 325 State St project
6/22/09 - appraisal for $325,000, with the #1 comp used was a property sold by the appraiser
Late May 09 - Sales agreement for $338,000 signed, and QAC asks state for funds specific to 325 State St project
6/22/09 - appraisal for $325,000, with the #1 comp used was a property sold by the appraiser
11/10/19 - commission signs grant for a shelter, doesn't mention 325 State St.
11/16/09 - county takes ownership of 325 State St.
11/18/09 - Address first reported in Bay Times
11/16/09 - county takes ownership of 325 State St.
11/18/09 - Address first reported in Bay Times
To justify the price paid, QAC said the location “helps to avoid negative reactions to the project by community residents.” The state agreed that “the re-use of the property is a special use that many neighbors would protest.” - October 2009 emails, before the public was told the address.
“The State Street location is at the end of the road nestled among a construction lot, Department of Transportation storage, auto garage and salvage lots.” - Haven Ministries letter to supporters
“This area is adjacent to...residential areas, a public park and school facilities.” - 2007 QAC Chester/Stevensville Community Plan
“This area is adjacent to...residential areas, a public park and school facilities.” - 2007 QAC Chester/Stevensville Community Plan
Approximate distance to: Social Services, Community Services, Career Center, Health Dept, Mental Health Services - 18 miles; Chesapeake College, 14 miles; Emergency room, 8 miles; Police, 5.8 miles; Doctor, 2.4 miles. Regular public transportation - ?
More distances: Residential neighborhood, 0 feet; Cross-Island Trail connector, 15 ft; Old Love Point Park and Playground, 150 ft; Kent Island High School stadium/ track, 650 ft, Bayside Elementary playground, 800 ft; Licensed daycares, 800 ft; Kent Island Elementary,1600 ft; Kent Island High School building,1700 ft; Stevensville Middle School - 2600 ft. - source: Google Earth
Haven Ministries "Fact" Sheet: “homeless does not equal criminal”
REAL FACTS:
Approx. 30% of homeless inquires received by QAC social services were from persons with criminal history. - 7/13-9/13, state records
“Some transient homeless adults are often in need of assistance to reach a particular destination. Past involvement has included assisting newly released inmates from the local detention center and individuals who have been deinstitutionalized from psychiatric centers.” - QAC application for homeless services funding
Homeless persons with criminal records have been found trespassing in Chester while waiting for the shelter to open for the evening - QAC Sheriff reports
Haven Ministries "Fact" Sheet: “Rural homeless is not the same as urban homeless”
REAL FACTS:
“The same structural factors that contribute to urban homelessness...also lead to rural homelessness.... recent research suggests that... there is no difference in reported substance abuse between rural and urban residents.” - National Alliance to End Homelessness
QAC Commissioners:
President Jim Moran jmoran@qac.org
VP Paul Comfort pcomfort@qac.org
Mark Anderson manderson@qac.org
Steve Wilson swilson@qac.org
Robert Buckey rbuckey@qac.org
District 36 Representatives
Delegate Steven Arentz steven.arentz@house.state.md.us - former commission president, signed construction grant request in 2012
Senator Steven Hershey steve.hershey@house.state.m.us
Delegate Jay Jacobs jay.jacobs@house.state.md.us
Delegate Jeff Ghrist jeff.ghrist@house.state.md.us
The community at large and Haven Ministries would best be served in the long run by spending the money used to build the 8000+ sq ft facility educating the young men and woman on living a responsible life style.
ReplyDeleteA REAL ministry doesn't enable people by rewarding them for their poor decisions in life.
These people involved in these "ministries" think they are paving their own stairway to Heaven when the opposite is what is true.
Politicians seem to be sidestepping the homeless situation and the homeless veteran situation.That huge part is always missing from a workable solution,probably because there is no resolution to it.Mayorial races address homelessness on occasion,but beyond that no mention is made.And no I didn't miss anything.I just know that a workable solution will involve everyone.
ReplyDelete7:15 I'd like to see the hundreds of thousands of square feet already in use as juvenile detention facilities, used to educate "troubled youth" on living a responsible lifestyle, while safely locked away from the public.
ReplyDeleteBut the reality, is that if the parents don't live a responsible lifestyle, it's unlikely their hordes of offspring will, either.
For real 10:19. All these "Do Gooders" are doing is perpetuating the problem.
ReplyDeleteIf they put as much energy and money into getting to the root of the problem as they did trying to trick people into thinking they were these "Holier Than Thou" wonderful people maybe the problem would start to get down to a more manageable level where the concentration could be put mostly on the veterans.