Chattanooga officials hope to place a 24/7 low-barrier homeless shelter in a transit building on East 12th Street, but at least some nearby community members have concerns and are asking neighbors to sign a petition opposing the project.
“We’re not asking the homeless to leave,” said Merri Mai Williamson, an approximately 19-year resident of the neighborhood who is helping organize the petition effort. “We’re not asking the homeless service providers to leave. We’re just saying we are past a tipping point.
“We cannot take on anymore,” Williamson continued. “Please do not expand services in our neighborhood. Take the services to where the rest of the homeless people are throughout our community.”
In July 2022, the city announced plans to use $2.84 million in federal pandemic relief funds to build a low-barrier homeless shelter, a more accessible type of facility that doesn’t generally bar people based on, for example, their backgrounds, religious beliefs or issues with substance abuse. It’s a tool Chattanooga has needed for a long time, homeless services providers said, and city leaders will have a code of conduct for residents.