First Posted: 4/2/2015
ST. MARYS — Neighbors and business owners are expressing concern over a transitional housing unit to open sometime over the next several months in St. Marys.
The Resource and Opportunity Center plans to lease the former First Wesleyan Church located at 128 S. Spruce St. and the former parsonage immediately to the south to start a transitional home. The center plans to use the former church as its office, and the residence will be a home for two to six men at a time.
The group’s mission statement online: “Working in cooperation with existing agencies to direct individuals and families to the appropriate services needed. Together we will look at the entire picture of one’s life, address all situations and roadblocks, and encourage the individual to lead a successful life.”
Joe Hurlburt said the group is still developing plans for the type of clients it will serve, but clients would likely be non-violent offenders coming out of prison. He said the group will not accept violent or sexual offenders for the housing, and the men would be required to undergo regular drug testing and stay employed.
Neighbors, business owners and others interested in the proposal met to discuss concerns at a meeting held last week at Miller-Long & Folk Funeral Home.
Jeanne Meyer, co-owner of Spring Flowers, said she checked in to legal possibilities of keeping the housing unit from opening. After coming to a dead end, she said she then began an information campaign so neighbors in the area knew about the housing unit.
“It appears to be a done deal,” Meyer said. “We are the ones that have informed everyone of what was going over there.”
Center operators Joe and Bev Hurlburt originally bid on the church building, but church officials said the parsonage had to be purchased in the same transaction. The center had problems securing the funding for the larger purchase. The land was bought by the St. Marys Foundry soon after. The foundry went to the Hurlburts and offered to lease the property.
Hurlburt said officials from the foundry approached them about opening some kind of a shelter by “pure chance,” saying it was divine intervention. Hurlburt said the center is a faith-based initiative.
The housing unit would be located in the vicinity of Holy Rosary School. Officials there said they didn’t have enough information to comment. Officials at the St. Marys Foundry did not return phone calls.
One homeowner in the neighborhood said he did not feel the home’s location was right.
“I think it is a good idea, but not in a residential neighborhood,” said John Nelson. “How do I let my 8-year-old play outside in the yard? Everyone I have talked to has said they would not want it in their backyard.”
