What started out a caring and compassionate way of helping the homeless in Fond du Lac is generating some controversy. A proposal to use the basement at St. Joseph’s Church as an overnight shelter during the winter months has some parents of children attending the neighboring St. Mary’s Academy concerned about safety. Parent Maggie Rose says there’s the potential for some of the homeless to be dangerous. “There are no background checks being performed,” Rose says. “Our number one concern is the location.” Rose says parents are not against having a homeless shelter, but not at that particular location.
Solutions Center Executive Director Lindee Kimball says those seeking shelter overnight would be leaving before most of the kids arrive at school. She says an adjacent shelter hasn’t cause any problems in the last two decades. “We have that same concern, but Solutions Center has a mens shelter right across the street from St. Joe’s, and we haven’t had a problem in over 20 years.” The warming shelter needs a zoning variance. The request will go before the City’s Planning Commission Monday night, but would eventually need City Council approval.
KFIZ’s Bob Nelson submitted this report