A new homeless shelter on Mahan Drive is getting negative feedback. Residents in the area complain the shelter is too close to their homes.
City Walk Urban Mission was supposed to be a cold night shelter for homeless people but neighbors say it’s been acting as a full-blown homeless shelter. Jeremy Shaw lives in one of the nearby neighborhoods. He raised his concerns during a recent Tallahassee City Commission meeting
“Why this location it’s next to three neighborhoods? Why does the purpose of this shelter keep changing?" asked Shaw. "People are drinking throughout the day at the bus stops or the building. Where do you expect the people who are turned away at night for being intoxicated to sleep if no alcohol or drugs are allowed on campus.”
Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox says they honestly don’t know.
“We don’t have the answers and thank you for asking each one of us to tell you how it happened, we don’t know how it happened. They operated their own practice like many businesses do," said Williams-Cox.
The Mayor and commissioners said they are working to figure out what steps they can take next. The shelter has until Feb. 4 to submit documents to the city to be a permanent shelter.
In September, City Walk was paid $160,000 in a settlement with Wakulla County after their shelter was closed down.
