Kent Island Citizens Call for Public Hearing on Revived State St. Shelter Plan

STEVENSVILLE, MD - As Queen Anne's County again seeks to build a homeless shelter near Kent Island's trail, park and four schools, Save Our Stevensville has requested a public hearing on an agreement which would determine the design, use, screening and security policies for the state's latest proposal.

A draft agreement, or MOU, states that if funded, a 6,000 sf facility would provide transitional shelter for families - not an overnight shelter for individuals. But according to Housing Secretary Ken Holt, rules attached to federal and state money require Haven Ministries to admit single men and women as well.

"Removing the overnight-only component would certainly be a starting point," said Stevensville resident Mike Ranelli, pointing out that a formal agreement has yet to be reached. For the project to have community support, he added, "it's absolutely critical that a public hearing take place in Stevensville so that citizens know not only the design, capacity, clientele and security policies, but also how an MOU would be enforced in the face of ever-changing federal regulations."

He noted the importance of having officials answer direct questions in a public forum, "so that trust can be re-established," and because alternative locations have yet to be discussed. "The public deserves to know exactly why commissioners feel this is the best location." Ranelli said.

After Comptroller Peter Franchot described the 325 State St. site as "lousy," saying "you’ve managed to somehow get a site that’s bad for the clients...and it certainly isn’t something that the residents there think is appropriate," the Maryland Board of Public Works voted to defer funding until an alternative solution could be reached at the
local level.

SOS has also requested a full planning commission review, and for guarantees that 325 State St. will never be used for an overnight-only homeless shelter. Ranelli said that grants need to be amended accordingly, and "we ask commissioners to pass an ordinance prohibiting the operation of a nightly homeless shelter near schools and child-care facilities anywhere in the county."