Former South Jersey convent was set to become a homeless shelter. Then, the plan changed
A locally approved emergency shelter for homeless families will not be coming to a Maple Shade church complex as planned.
Family Promise of Burlington County has dropped the project despite receiving township approval to operate its first permanent shelter in a former convent.
Family Promise Executive Director Scott Rush said its board of trustees voted to withdraw from the project at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help complex at Main Street and Fellowship Road.
"The primary reason is that the board has decided to shift our focus to eviction prevention," he said, explaining the board's rationale is two-fold.
Advocate criticizes abrupt cleanup As homeless encampment is cleared, what happens to its residents?
"First, prevention is proactive; once a family loses their home, it is extremely difficult to get them rehoused. Second, the bulk of government funding is similarly going toward eviction prevention."
At the most recent trustees' meeting, Rush said board president Bill Schmidt also commented that “costs and operating requirements escalated through the due diligence (of the township planning board) process involving discussions and negotiations with all parties."
The township planning board approved the shelter in March after a public hearing that drew mostly comments of opposition from surrounding neighbors and other residents.
The proposed shelter was to have housed no more than 14 persons.
"We have enjoyed working with the team from Family Promise over the past year. While we are disappointed the project will not be going forward after many months of planning, we wish Family Promise the best as they take their organization in new directions," said church spokeswoman Wendy Marano.
The church will continue to pursue "new ideas for under-used space on its campus for existing and future church and mission-focused purposes,” she added.
Who was to be housed at the homeless shelter?
The two-story convent on South Poplar Avenue has been vacant for about three years.
"To assist families with children is our main goal," Schmidt told the planning board in March. "Most applicants would be working, but a tragic event finds them homeless."
Family Promise, formerly the Interfaith Hospitality Network, has provided meals, temporary shelter and assistance to homeless families at churches and other locations in Burlington County since it was established 25 years ago.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Build emergency shelters for homeless families or focus on prevention?
