Many Lewiston residents who commented at a City Council work session Monday said they like the idea of helping the local homeless population get off the street, but not if it means housing displaced individuals near residential neighborhoods, public parks, the levee or businesses such as restaurants.
Union Gospel Mission, an organization operating several homeless shelters and recovery centers in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and Seattle, approached the Lewiston City Council on Monday to ask that regulations governing homeless shelters in the city be amended, specifically a rule that caps shelters at 50 residents. They proposed an idea called Bridge Shelter Housing, a model of temporary housing with programs aimed at bringing the homeless quickly off the streets. It would be permitted only in certain districts of Lewiston, including large portions of downtown; the waterfront, including Snake River Avenue; North Lewiston; and the 21st Street corridor.
Phil Altmeyer, CEO of the Spokane-based ministry, said its facility will be high-barrier, rather than low-barrier, meaning those admitted can’t come in and out when they please or use drugs and alcohol. According to Altmeyer, the city of Lewiston has yet to address the issue of homelessness in its community.
UGM issued a news release two weeks ago noting the 2020 counts of homeless people in the Region 2 area that comprises north central Idaho tallied 268 homeless persons. Of those, 213 were unsheltered. Asotin County adds another 150 people to the region’s unsheltered count, bringing the minimum number to 363. (Lewiston Tribune)
