FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 29, 2000

For more information, call Barbara Poppe, CSB  (614) 221-9195

COMMUNITY SHELTER BOARD EXPLORES NEW FACILITY OPTION

New near north site will help homeless men

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Community Shelter Board (CSB) announced today that it is exploring the feasibility of acquiring property in the East Fifth Avenue area for a new men’s facility.

The proposed facility, located at the former Anchor Press building at 1300 Corrugated Way, will provide access to clean, safe shelter and link homeless men with employment, housing and other services.

CSB began neighborhood notification once the site was under contract. As soon as the contract was accepted, CSB began identifying neighborhood leaders. Informal discussions began with these leaders in January and a full briefing with the East Fifth Avenue Area Commission was held at its regular monthly meeting on February 9.

Barbara Poppe stated, "CSB is committed to ensuring that a Good Neighbor Agreement is in place to facilitate communication, securing neighborhood input in building and program design, and developing a successful partnership with the neighborhood."

In addition, the Community Shelter Board is currently designing the process to select the new operator. The operator will likely be a current CSB partner agency. The Open Shelter has indicated an interest in the site but is also considering other locations.

 

CSB considers new facility for the homeless/2

"We are at the beginning of the process to locate a men’s shelter at the Corrugated Way site," said Barbara Poppe, executive director of the Community Shelter Board. "There is still much work to be done, including designing the facility, raising funds and selecting the program operator."

The building is located in a small industrial area between Fifth Avenue and Eleventh Avenue, near Cleveland Avenue and Interstate 71. The one-story building, with just less than 22,000 square feet, sits on nearly two acres.

The Community Shelter Board believes that the new location is suitable for a homeless shelter. The building is within walking distance of five major bus lines and numerous neighborhood employment opportunities. Nearby community services include a new COTA transit center, Franklin County Opportunity Center, and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority administrative offices.

"The building will need to be designed for its new use, but it has good existing space for beds, offices and program areas," Poppe said. "The new facility will benefit the community by offering 24-hour shelter services to homeless men who currently lack access to local, emergency housing,"

The Rebuilding Lives plan, recommended by the Scioto Peninsula Relocation Task in 1998, called for reducing homelessness on the riverfront and the relocation of two shelters. As part of Rebuilding Lives, all shelters are required to be certified to meet standards for safety and financial accountability. The new operator would also be required to enter into a Good Neighbor Agreement with the community to promote open communication.

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