NORTH WILKESBORO -- People in the town of North Wilkesboro are upset over plans to relocate a new and larger homeless shelter in their neighborhood.
- The current Catherine H. Barber Homeless Shelter can hold up to 11 people and it's a temporary homeless shelter where people can stay a maximum of 14 nights from the hours of 6:30 PM to 6:30 AM
- Nearby business owners say it's causing problems for the community
- However, the Board of Directors for the homeless shelter are shocked about the opposition
The current Catherine H. Barber Homeless Shelter can hold up to 11 people and it's a temporary homeless shelter where people can stay a maximum of 14 nights from the hours of 6:30 PM to 6:30 AM. Nearby business owners say it's causing problems for the community.
“There's a lot of loitering, lots of littering. Numerous times I've had to pick up used syringes on our yard,” said business owner, Amanda Jolly.
Jolly said she fully supports building a bigger and better homeless shelter, but she said it shouldn't happen 600 feet up the road because of all the problems they are currently having.
However, the Board of Directors for the homeless shelter are shocked about the opposition.
“We've never really heard of any problems whatsoever before this and we are surprised and a little saddened by it, but we hope that we can really get in unity and harmony and work things out,” explained Board of Directors Chairperson, Elizabeth Huffman.
There will be a meeting Thursday evening of the town's board of adjustment to determine if the new shelter can be built on this proposed location.