Interfaith Sanctuary will present its case to the Boise City Council for a permit to relocate its emergency shelter to State Street. The proposal has prompted a significant debate with the Veterans Park Neighborhood Association over operating conditions, including shelter capacity and guest requirements.
The hearing follows a previous approval that was nullified by the Idaho Supreme Court due to procedural issues. The nonprofit seeks more operational flexibility, while the neighborhood association is advocating for stricter regulations on the proposed facility.
Key Takeaways
- Interfaith Sanctuary is seeking final approval from the Boise City Council to move its shelter to the Veterans Park neighborhood.
- The nonprofit requests flexible occupancy rules, aiming to remove a hard cap of 205 beds to accommodate fluctuating demand.
- The Veterans Park Neighborhood Association proposes strict conditions, including a firm 202-bed limit, mandatory guest programming, and extensive security measures.
- This is the second time the project has gone through the full approval process after a court ruling invalidated the first permit.
City Council to Review Shelter Proposal
The Boise City Council is scheduled to hear arguments regarding Interfaith Sanctuary's plan to move its operations from the downtown Shoreline area. The proposed new location is a former Salvation Army warehouse on State Street, situated within the Veterans Park neighborhood.
This hearing represents a critical step for the nonprofit, which has been working on this relocation for five years. The project's initial approval in January was overturned by the Idaho Supreme Court, which found that the City of Boise had not followed its own zoning code procedures. The new hearing operates under revised rules that give the city council more authority in the decision-making process.
Interfaith Sanctuary's plan for the new facility includes significant changes from its current model. It intends to operate 24 hours a day, allowing guests to remain on-site, and implement an approved waitlist system with an 8 p.m. check-in, replacing the existing walk-up service.
Dispute Over Occupancy and Flexibility
A central point of contention is the shelter's capacity. Interfaith Sanctuary is asking the city to allow for flexible occupancy, arguing against a rigid cap on the number of guests. The nonprofit wants the ability to use mats in common areas or install more bunk beds during emergencies or periods of high demand.
Geoff Wardle, an attorney for the shelter, described a hard cap as an "arbitrary" restriction based on "hypothetical and irrational fears." The shelter also seeks the freedom to reconfigure bed types—such as those for families, single men, single women, and medically fragile individuals—to better meet the community's changing needs.
Background of the Dispute
The proposal to move the shelter has faced strong opposition from the Veterans Park Neighborhood Association since it was first announced. Residents have consistently voiced concerns about potential increases in crime, strain on emergency services, and negative impacts on property values. The debate highlights the broader challenges cities face in balancing the need for homeless services with the concerns of residential communities.
In its application, Interfaith Sanctuary argues that inflexible limits could hinder its ability to provide essential services. Wardle's letter to the council stated that the neighborhood association's approach could lead to individuals being turned away and potentially arrested under the city's public camping ordinance.
Neighborhood Association Proposes Strict Conditions
The Veterans Park Neighborhood Association (VPNA) has submitted a detailed, nearly 40-page letter to the city council outlining its desired conditions for the shelter's operation. The association insists on a hard occupancy cap of 202 beds, excluding cribs.
VPNA also demands a fixed allocation of beds that cannot be changed, even in emergencies. Their proposal specifies:
- 100 beds designated for families
- Up to 51 beds for adult men
- Up to 31 beds for adult women
- Up to 20 beds for medically fragile guests
Furthermore, the association wants to prohibit the shelter from offering meals or other services to non-residents. They propose that most guests must either be employed for at least 20 hours per week or be enrolled in shelter programming to be eligible to stay, with an exception for eight emergency beds.
"Guests admitted to the urgent overnight care beds may stay up to 15 days if they comply with shelter and neighborhood behavioral expectations," the VPNA letter states, after which they would need to meet employment or programming requirements.
Security and Guest Screening at Forefront of Debate
Security measures and guest eligibility are also major points of disagreement. While Interfaith Sanctuary already screens for sex offenders, the VPNA is pushing for a more stringent process. They want to ban individuals who may have accepted plea bargains for lesser charges, as well as violent offenders and those with recent public camping violations within a two-mile radius of the facility.
A Matter of Miles
The proposed two-mile exclusion zone for public camping violations is notable. The distance from the proposed State Street location to Interfaith Sanctuary's current downtown shelter is approximately 2.9 miles by car, placing the old location outside this specific zone.
The neighborhood association has also requested a ban on sleeping in vehicles or tents on the property. They want guest check-in limited to between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., with any after-hours emergency check-ins requiring a police escort.
A key demand from the VPNA is that if a person is expelled or turned away and refuses transportation to another shelter, Interfaith Sanctuary should be required to contact the Boise Police Department. This is linked to a new city ordinance, effective July 1, that bans public camping, though a person can only be cited if they are actively setting up camp.
Finally, the VPNA has requested extensive compliance reporting on shelter outcomes, neighborhood complaints, and crime statistics for the surrounding area. They even suggested an automatic 25% reduction in the shelter's occupancy if calls for police service or reported crimes in the area reach a certain threshold.