PEORIA, Ill. – The latest proposal for addressing homelessness in Peoria is a tiny shelter village, similar to one planned for Bloomington.
Dream Center Peoria told the City Council that people who don’t thrive in traditional homeless shelters have no place to go. Tuesday, they proposed a tiny home community for Peoria.
During a special city council meeting at the Gateway Building, council discussed the concept of tiny homes for additional emergency shelter capacity. City staff asked the council where something like this should go. Several on the horseshoe, including Mayor Rita Ali, said a tiny home shelter should not be downtown.
“I am adamantly against having the tiny homes project in Downtown Peoria. I think that it could hurt our attempts to grow housing Downtown. I think it could hurt our attempts to grow business Downtown,” Mayor Ali said.
Dream Center Peoria’s Andy King told WMBD Radio’s “Greg and Dan”, “Compassion Village” would include 32 separate tiny shelters for people who aren’t comfortable living in a traditional shelter situation.
“It brings independence, but it also brings a community feel. And for us, it also creates one place where we can bring services to people that normally, it’s very hard to find them,” King said.
King said there would be added security for those living in the tiny homes, because they would be “lockable”.
“There would be a key pad on every home. What that does is it brings security for their belongings, so they’re not looking over their shoulder constantly…thinking something’s going to be stolen,” King said.
“Compassion Village” would reportedly cost $900,000 to build, with over $300,000 in upkeep each year.
According to 25 News, no one on the council opposed the project itself, though 5th District Councilman Denis Cyr said the community can’t afford to spend more money on homelessness.
3rd District Councilman Tim Riggenbach spoke in favor of the tiny homes.
“I think it’s critical for us as a council tonight to give staff that direction to begin adjusting the ordinances that will allow that to happen,” Riggenbach said.
The council did not vote at Tuesday’s meeting. Mayor Ali asked staff to work on possible ordinance changes needed for a tiny home shelter and to come back with options.
Comments