Permit denied for proposed women's shelter

Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Claire Sarafin | WQOW

September 13

Altoona (WQOW) -- Hope Gospel Mission's plan to expand has been put on hold.

At a meeting Monday, the Altoona Plan Commission voted against issuing a conditional use permit to the organization for the purpose of building a new women's shelter.

Hope Gospel Mission was interested in buying a building on Devney Drive that used to be an assisted living home. They wanted to turn it into a shelter for women with children and families.  Several community members spoke at Monday's meeting with concerns ranging from added noise to the safety of the neighborhood.

"I'm worried about police being called, I'm worried about problems, I'm worried about the noise of the children outside.  Right now there isn't any of that there.  So can you [Hope Gospel Mission] guarantee that I'm not going to have any problems there?  And that my property is going to keep it's value, and my tenants are going to stay?" said Mary Varones, a community member who owns property adjacent to the assisted living facility.

Many members of the plan commission showed support for all that the Hope Gospel Mission does, but said, they voted against the permit because it just wasn't the right space for the facility.

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September 12

Altoona (WQOW) -- Hope Gospel Mission wants to open a new women's shelter in Altoona.

Chris Hedlund, the program director at Hope Gospel Mission, told News 18 that 5 years ago they realized the need for another women's shelter in our area and now they're getting to work. 

Hedlund said they are interested in buying a building on Devney Drive that used to be an assisted living home. Originally, they had hoped to use the Fanny Hill Inn after it was donated to them in 2015, but they said that space wouldn't accommodate their residents. Now, they're looking to sell Fanny Hill and use that money for the new shelter. 

If the Altoona Planning Commission approves the plan, Hedlund said it would take Hope Gospel Mission at least a year to raise enough money and support for the project. But some people in the neighborhood are already on board. 

"It's nice that the building will be occupied and it'll be a reliable place," Ted Larson said. "We don't like empty places, so it's nice to have somebody come in there." 

Larson lives just across the street from the proposed location and said he can't imagine a new shelter would create a problem in the neighborhood. However, one potential issue News 18 discussed with Hedlund and Altoona city officials is the affect a nearby tavern could have on women's addiction recovery, but they said no location is perfect.

"We have bars all over the area. So, you're never far from a bar," Altoona Public Works Director Mike Golat said, "but the main thing is this is a voluntary program where people do want to get help." 

Hedlund said Hope Gospel Mission isn't worried about the tavern because, he said, usually women stay with them for reasons other than addiction recovery. Though, it's a different story for their men's shelter in downtown Eau Claire which is surrounded by bars. Hedlund said that's one of the reasons why they're working on moving to a new location near their bargain center off Clairemont Ave. 

The Altoona Planning Commission will discuss the new women's shelter at their meeting Monday at 6 p.m. at city hall. Residents are welcome to attend and share their opinions. 

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