As New Philadelphia removes encampments, homeless shelter construction progresses
NEW PHILADELPHILA – The city is removing a pair of homeless encampments this week.
Service Director Ron McAbier says workers have been clearing out an encampment near the 77-250 interchange and along the Tuscarawas River behind the shopping plaza that includes Big Lots.
He says they also plan to remove the encampment along the river by New Towne Mall this week. The work is funded by a state grant that McAbier says was created to keep litter and pollution out of waterways.
Joe Svancara with Friends for the Homeless, which runs the downtown homeless shelter, says that group has been trying to find places for those people to go. Their Mobile Red Door project aims to find out what led people to homelessness and what they need to get out of that situation.
He says they have had some success getting people from the encampments into the shelter, but it’s hit and miss depending on whether an individual qualifies or wants to go.
Meanwhile, Svancara says construction at the homeless shelter at 211 East High Avenue is progressing well. Jack’s House of Hope is a new $4.5 million shelter adjacent to the existing one. Svancara says the shell and roof should be done within a few weeks or a month. He thinks it will be ready to serve the community by fall.
The new shelter will have 14 rooms for men, 16 for women and 4 family units.
Svancara says they are still collecting donations at fothtusc.org.