The Chattanooga City Council voted 8-0 tonight to file a lawsuit against the Union Gospel Mission and its executive director, Jon Rector, saying the mission is putting homeless people in “dangerous” conditions.
City officials said Tuesday night that the mission was violating multiple zoning laws and fire safety codes.
“It’s crowded quarters,” said Fire Chief Randy Parker. “There’s too many people in there.”
The mission moved into its new location at 124 Signal Hills Drive in the Signal Hills neighborhood more than a month ago after being temporarily housed at the Salvation Army on McCallie Avenue. The mission had previously been located at the former Senter School until it was sold.
Mr. Rector could not be reached for comment at this time.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government. He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee. A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism. Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) ...
At least the mission is "putting" them somewhere. If these people were dogs they would already have a multi million dollar facility by now.
Bureaucracy run amuck. Maybe Rector thinks they'll be better off under the 3rd St overpass.
Some people are just too stubborn to realize what God's calling is. Main street location is shut down, Holtzclaw location was a failed-test, and the welcome from Salvation Army was absolutely worn out.
I understand the facility is not safe but what's the city's solution? If you want to complain about a situation you should be able to offer ideas on how to fix it.
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