Rejected: East Side Homeless Shelter At Joliet YMCA
JOLIET, IL — The city of Joliet's zoning board voted 6-0 to deny the Morning Star Mission's plan to put a day care center at the former Smith YMCA on Briggs Street. The board also voted 6-0 to reject plans to open a homeless shelter at the same property.
Sandi Perzee, the executive director for the MorningStar Mission on East Washington Street, wanted to convert the former swimming pool facility at the vacant YMCA into 10 permanent supportive housing units for people who have been homeless.
Two people spoke in favor of the project, and five citizens addressed the board during Thursday afternoon's meeting urging that the Morning Star Mission's project be denied.
Megan Cooper, who lives near the former Smith YMCA, told zoning board members that she just found out about the plans for the MorningStar Mission homeless shelter on Wednesday.
"I was making phone calls. Everyone is opposed to it," Cooper told the board. "They couldn't get off work to actually be here, but I tell you what and I will guarantee you this, 'We will show up in force for the City Council meeting, if it comes down to it.'"
Joliet City Planning Director Jim Torri urged the zoning board to reject the Morning Star Mission project. Several board members expressed strong reservations about MorningStar's idea of operating a day-care center open to the community in the same building that would house at least 10 homeless people on a long-term basis.
"There will be a brick wall between them," Perzee assured the zoning board. "It's a locked facility, and you have to be buzzed in and out for that."
She also insisted that the MorningStar Mission staff will conduct a rigorous background check and screening process before accepting any men to live at the Briggs Street shelter.
As far as her funding source, Perzee said "it is not from any taxpayers or the county or the state. None of this is COVID (funds). This is all self-funded or through private funds."
One zoning board member suggested some of the homeless men may become lonely, prompting them to wander over to the areas of the building where the day-care center would operate.
"There will be paid staff whenever a child is on premises," Perzee assured the zoning board.
Men staying at the shelter on Briggs Street "would have to have a job and agree to be case managed," she added.
This article originally appeared on the Joliet Patch
