Politics & Government
City Council To Vote On Homeless Hospitality Center's Request for More Beds
The shelter, which has 50 beds at its current location at St. James Episcopal Church on Jay Street, is only permitted to have 25 beds at its new location on State Pier Road, which is slated to open this fall.
On August 26, New London City Council's Administration Committee voted in favor of a request from the Homeless Hospitality Center, Inc. for emergency authorization to expand capacity at its new facility at State Pier Road from 25 beds to 50.
"I have no qualms at all at increasing it this winter for emergencies," said Council President Michael Passero. Indeed, Passero recommended extending the shelter's original request, which was for 50 bed capacity from November 1 to March 31, by a month in case of storms in April.
The request will now go before the City Council for a full vote on the matter.
The shelter's current facility at St. James Episcopal Church on Jay Street has 50 beds and serves people not only from the City of New London but from surrounding towns such as Waterford, shelter operators explained. When the Planning and Zoning Commission approved the new shelter, however, it limited the capacity to 25 beds.
Councilman Rev. Wade A. Hyslop, Jr. suggested that the shelter return to the Planning and Zoning Commission with a request to change that to allow the new shelter to operate with 50 beds on a permanent basis. Passero agreed.
"I'd rather not see you have to come back every winter," he said.
The new shelter, which is currently being renovated, is slated to open by November 1. If all goes well, there should be a ribbon cutting ceremony sometime in mid-October.
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