TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)-- The Tallahassee-Leon Shelter is planning a possible relocation and asking for public input. They held a public meeting on Oct. 8 at the Renaissance Community Center located on W. Virginia Street, right behind The Shelter.
Director of The Shelter, Jacob Reiter, says they wanted to address any concerns the public may have with a potential location of a new emergency services building.
This meeting comes after months of public concerns about The Shelter, which began in February after a woman stayed the night there pretending to be homeless. She claimed she experienced poor conditions and sexual harassment.
Residents in the nearby Frenchtown neighborhood have also been questioning safety in their area because of residents at The Shelter. Some of those residents are registered sex offenders.
A study done by the United Way of the Big Bend in May suggested that The Shelter find a different location. Some volunteers disagree with a location change, saying the current location is central and close to the Greyhound bus station. Others say they need a larger area to expand the space they have for residents.
One concern brought up by a citizen at the meeting is the number of sex offenders who will be in close proximity to a children's center. Board member Tomi Gomory says sex offenders will not be allowed to stay overnight in the new facility and that the safety of the surrounding community will be a priority.
