‘I understand why people may have concerns’; Proposed Champaign homeless shelter

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The future of a proposed homeless shelter is in the hands of the Champaign City Council.

C-U at Home is behind the proposal, and said they need the space to meet the needs of the community. However, nearby business owners and neighbors are worried.

The shelter would take over a business center on S. Mattis Ave. near Sangamon Drive.

"I think that there's a lot to be concerned about with safety," neighbor Jane Heaton said.

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Heaton lives in what she said is "too close" to the location of the proposed shelter.

"We have a long waiting list that people have been on, and been sitting on for some time," C-U at Home Executive Director Melissa Courtwright said. "So, it's really important to us to try to meet the community need and expand our program."

Despite the goals of the proposal, some locals aren't sold on that idea.

"I'd rather it go in someone else's neighborhood," Heaton said.

C-U at Home operates seven shelters across Champaign-Urbana but said that isn't enough. Courtwright said while they're aware people in the area are concerned, there are regulations for who can be housed.

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"There's a certain way homelessness is presented, but our clients don't reflect those stereotypes," Courtwright said.

The proposed shelter would house 26 people. That would be in addition to the around 30 they already serve in other locations.

Those living in the shelters cannot be registered sex offenders or have a recent violent history.

"We do a thorough intake and interview with each person," Courtwright said. "It's actually a pretty competitive process to get in because we have so many applicants and such little space."

If the proposal passes through city council, the businesses in the building would have to find new spaces. One of those businesses, Aging in Place, said they thought they'd be there forever.

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"We had architects come through assessing the walls, so that's when we put two and two together, they're wanting to buy this and use it as something else," said Lacee Latham, Aging in Place documentation lead.

Latham and other businesses said they've not had any communication with C-U at Home. She hopes that changes after the city council meeting.

"I'm really shocked and concerned that they're not going to other businesses in the suites and getting their input," Latham said.

Latham said she heard rumors that Aging in Place and the other businesses in the building will have to be out by Dec. 1 if the proposal passes.

Courtwright said C-U at Home has no timeline on the potential move and never communicated a leave by date. She hopes to work with business owners if the vote passes to make the transition as seamless as possible.