Residents 'blindsided' by homeless shelter plan

A new homeless shelter is set to open across the street from P.S. 230 in Kensington, prompting an angry, shocked response from some residents and an outpouring of support from others. Community members

News 12 Staff

Dec 11, 2015, 8:20 AM

Updated 3,246 days ago

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A new homeless shelter is set to open across the street from P.S. 230 in Kensington, prompting an angry, shocked response from some residents and an outpouring of support from others.
Community members voiced their concerns on the issue at a public meeting Thursday night, with many parents sounding worried about security and the diminishment of their quality of life.
But officials say the shelter will house mostly families, single mothers in particular -- about 30 percent of whom are working. Their children are expected to attend the school.
Neighbors say they showed up to another meeting earlier this week to discuss the possibility of the shelter, only to find out plans had mostly been finalized.
The Department of Homeless Services plans to turn an old college dorm into a 65-unit shelter. The department says the shelter will pose no risk to the community or children. It plans to institute a curfew, install security cameras and employ a team of security guards.
The shelter is expected to be fully operational sometime this week.