Resident urges council’s support of center for homeless

On Feb. 28, the Jeffersonville Plan Commission rejected a zoning request from Jesus Cares at Exit 0, a nonprofit that’s ministered to Jeffersonville’s street homeless for more than three years. They’ve leased space formerly occupied by J & J Video for a community center offering showers, laundry facilities, computer access for job applications and more.

The overwhelming majority packing the room that night supported Exit 0. A few residents and Councilman Mike Smith voiced opposition. There’s not one good argument against granting this zoning change.

Downtown commercial zoning with an exception allowing a community center was requested, an explicitly permitted exception of DC zoning and a superior classification in this case. It’s better for the owner and Jeffersonville generally if this property maintains its potential for business rather than being classified as Institutional, the more straightforward approach. The exception is a burden on the organization. They have to file and pay for two change requests, but it’s better for everyone else and consistent with the city’s advice to the group.

“Build it and they will come” was the primary argument of the opposition. Exit 0 has already been ministering in the same area for more than three years with no evidence the local homeless population has increased as a result. Numbers have remained fairly steady through a bad economy which saw jobs and homes lost.

The homeless are already there. Businesses in the immediate area have folks bathing and washing items in their restrooms and loitering because they have no where else to go. This center will provide an alternative while also working to turn the homeless into the housed.

Opponents claim the center will harm development of that area. In fact, development will struggle if homelessness is not addressed. An organization is volunteering to work on the issue for free, but is being told no. It’s nonsensical. Would those opposed to this center prefer a tax-funded city program?

It hurts to admit, but the arguments of the opposition mostly boiled down to prejudice. Experiences with the Community Kitchen when it was located in Rose Hill, the worst of those experiences, were shared with the implication this center would cause a repeat of the abuses suffered. It was further recommended such a center belonged in Claysburg, not downtown.

It’s never right to judge groups of people based on the behavior of a few. There’s no reason to assume those served by Exit 0 and the Community Kitchen are the same individuals. There’s no reason to assume Exit 0 will manage their operation as Community Kitchen did. Without getting to know individual human beings, one has no idea if they’re actually homeless, perhaps mentally ill or anything else.

The Jeffersonville City Council will have the opportunity to override the Plan Commission and do the right thing on March 19 at 7 p.m. Reason, compassion and the greatest of commandments are on the side of Exit 0’s request. Please contact your council members and/or come on the 19th wearing green if you are too.

— Kelley Curran, Jeffersonville

http://newsandtribune.com/opinion/x1284934974/News-and-Tribune-letters-March-13-2012