The overflow homeless shelter operated by UCC Denison and the Metanoia Project will operate through the winter and into April after the city issued a continuance this week.
After having already resolved some fire code violations (exit signs, fire extinguishers), the church will need to remedy the rest (fire alarms, sprinkler system) by spring. For now, it will continue the nightly fire watch with the help of volunteers who’ve come forward to physically inspect and tour the church at regular intervals each night so that it can house the needy.
“I think the fact that we were granted the continuance was based on several factors, not the least of which was the existence of the fire watch,” Pastor Nozomi Ikuta told Ideastream.
Community support has been widespread in the face of code-based attacks by the city of Cleveland at the behest of departing councilwoman Dona Brady, which included a cease use notice delivered on Christmas Eve, a yuletide anti-homeless insult that led to an overwhelming and passionate showing by supporters at the next Cleveland city council meeting.
Advocates have also clamored for the to establish a cold-weather plan.
“We renew our request that the City of Cleveland work to put in place an effective and compassionate long-term cold weather plan that honors the safety, dignity, and value of every child of God,” the church said in a December statement. Discussions, councilman Matt Zone has said, began in early January on that front and continue.
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This article appears in Feb 5-11, 2020.
What a Dump! is going to complain that “ma$$ive taxes” are used to help those in critical need.
“Screw the value of human life, I don’t want MY tax dollars to be used to help people!”
Yeah, but What a Dump! is an actual honest to goodness moron.
The one thing he gets right is that Budish and Jackson need to be gone yesterday, their handling of the county jail demonstrates that clearly enough to anyone with a couple of brain cells.
Add this asshat council woman to the list as well. Most of these unfortunate, homeless souls are probably worth 3 of these uncompassionate idiot career politicians, who suck more out of the system than 100 homeless people ever could.