Spartanburg's Miracle Hill prepares for more people after city orders night shelter closure

Miracle Hill Rescue Mission said it is ready to help accommodate a potential influx of people experiencing homelessness when the Spartanburg Opportunity Center's nighttime shelter closes on Monday.

The city ordered Opportunity Center nighttime shelter to close Oct. 31. An estimated 85 people sleep there each night. The center's daytime shelter will remain open.

Spartanburg officials said Miracle Hill, located one mile from the Opportunity Center, has agreed to work with the city to accommodate those who might be left out in the cold.

Rescue Mission Director Matt Summey said their year-round shelter can accommodate 60 men and 36 women and children. It is currently at 70% to 80% capacity, he said. The cold weather shelter can accommodate up to 47 people. The center's chapel can be used as overflow and accommodate 60 more people, he said. At full capacity, the Rescue Mission could house up to 203 people.

"We can accommodate all," Summey said Tuesday. "I don't know that all will come."

Summey acknowledged the Miracle Hill Ministries Rescue Mission in Spartanburg has more stringent admission rules than the Opportunity Center. He said some rules will be eased for the cold weather shelter.

For example, Rescue Mission's rules state that no alcohol or drugs are allowed, and that and random alcohol and drug tests will be administered at the shelter. Controlled or narcotic substances are also not allowed and all prescribed medications must be turned in to staff.

Summey said if someone has alcohol on their breath or is identified to be under the influence of a drug, they will not be turned away from the cold weather shelter unless they are disruptive.

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Susan Ballantyne, president of Opportunity HUB, which oversees the Opportunity Center shelter, said some who stay at the Opportunity Center are elderly and have mental health issues and special medical needs. Some require oxygen tanks and wheelchairs.

Ballantyne said an estimated 100 people use the center's daytime shelter and 85 spend the night in the gymnasium at the Opportunity Center. She believes some at her shelter may be left out in the cold come Monday.

"Many of our folks are elderly, have medical conditions, are in wheelchairs, walkers with oxygen," she said. "Most don't want to walk far from our center with all of their belongings on their back, just to return again later in the day, so they stay close to the center."

Summey said those with special medical needs will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

"Some have medical issues we're not trained for," he said.

The Rescue Mission's cold weather shelter inside the building at 189 N. Forest St. has not opened because the daytime temperature has not yet dropped below 40 degrees.

But when it opens, Summey said anyone who needs an overnight place to stay is welcome to use the cold weather shelter with bathrooms and showers.

" I think the city has been great to partner with us," Summey said. "They still recognize the need for cold weather shelter and they're very supportive of what we're doing."

Opportunity Center ordered to close

The Opportunity Center night shelter at 701 Saxon Ave. was opened two years ago on a temporary basis in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Monday night's City Council meeting, several Opportunity Center shelter officials and residents urged the city to reconsider the decision.

The city issued this statement Tuesday:

"Recognizing the disruption this will cause for those experiencing homelessness who have utilized the center’s overnight sheltering option, city management says the city will be using its resources and working with the United Way of the Piedmont and other community partners to find other arrangements for those in need and remains committed to working with partners to increase the amount of shelter space available in our community.

"The City remains committed to increasing the amount of shelter space available in our community and we remain committed to using our own resources and leveraging the resources of the larger Spartanburg community to achieve that goal."

Giving hope Opportunity Center expands homeless services in Spartanburg

Susan Ballantyne, president of Opportunity HUB - which oversees the Opportunity Center's operation - said there is enough need to justify a 24/7 operation.

She said on any given day, there are around 800 people experiencing homelessness in Spartanburg County.

"Based on the last couple of meetings with the city, we were expecting permission to start a 24/7 pilot to give the homeless community a place to go 24 hours a day," she said Tuesday. "We were shocked when they came back and said we had to close the night shelter."

City Manager Chris Story said the decision was made based on many factors, including a sharp rise in northside police calls over the past two years and the center being in a residential neighborhood.

He said Opportunity HUB, formerly called SPIHN (Spartanburg Interfaith Hospitality Network) was originally approved to operate a daytime "one-stop shop" day center for homeless people to help them "transition to a stable living environment."

"Certainly the Opportunity Center wasn't intended to be a permanent shelter and has never been envisioned being anyone's permanent shelter," Story said.

The city owns the Opportunity Center building and leases it to Opportunity HUB, a nonprofit group. It is in the middle of a five-year lease through 2025, according to Ballantyne.

Shelter President Hoyt Bynum said Tuesday he remains hopeful the city will allow his overnight shelter to stay open through the winter.

"The timing of their decision is tough," Bynum said. "Our goal and desire is not to bash the city. But the reality is we're fighting for those who need us the most."

Rep. William Timmons tours Spartanburg's Opportunity Center

U.S. Rep. William Timmons of Greenville toured the Opportunity Center shelter on Tuesday, ahead of the center's ribbon cutting Thursday for its new medical clinic. His visit was scheduled prior to the city's decision to close the night shelter was made public.

He declined to comment on the city's decision, but said homelessness is an important issue that needs to be addressed.

"For Americans who experience homelessness, it should always be temporary, not cyclical," he said. "To effectively address the challenge of homelessness, we must focus on solutions that get at the underlying issues that cause homelessness and allow people to break the cycle."

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Miracle Hill prepares for more people after city closes night shelter