Sunday letters: Location of Toby’s Place an issue

Bertram Rantin’s March 16 story on the proposed Toby’s Place shelter for homeless women and children warms the hearts of readers. However, I am concerned there is a nascent movement to relocate homeless services now at Transitions on Elmwood Avenue to the southeast area bordered by churches and neighborhoods — i.e., moving homeless issues from downtown, catering to business people, and transferring them to the shoulders of residents who actually have homes in the suggested areas.

Toby’s Place supporters say auto dealer Jim Hudson generously has donated land for the project, but they won’t reveal its location for “security reasons.” Jim Hudson has a plot of land in the southeast area near Cedar Terrace where it is rumored that homeless services will be moved.

Everyone with a caring heart wants the homeless population to be served, but I wonder if the reason the location of Toby’s Place has not been revealed is that supporters know there might be concern among nearby residents and business owners.

Where one homeless population is served, others are likely to follow. Toby’s Place should be more forthcoming about the location.

Columbia

This story was originally published March 28, 2015 at 8:00 PM.