Athens residents split over temporary housing plan for homeless near school

ATHENS, Ohio (WCMH) -- In seven months, Kent Lankas went from living under bridges as one of many homeless Athens residents to sheltered, employed and helping others recover, an accomplishment he attributes to support from local nonprofit The Gathering Place.

"That one thing of having shelter, of having security, allowed me to come so far," Lankas said.

Lankas shared his story in a packed Athens City Council meeting Monday night in support of an ordinance to allow temporary shelters for homeless individuals on North Congress Street. Proponents of the plan said it is an opportunity to address Athens' large homelessness problem. Opponents said the location poses safety concerns so close to Ohio University students and Athens Middle School.

"We should feel safe and comfortable in our own house," Ohio University student Allison Perry, who lives on the same street as the proposed temporary housing, said.

Athens' homeless population has spiked since the pandemic. According to the Athens County Foundation, between 40%-60% of homeless Athens residents are employed, but a lack of a livable wage and affordable housing drives housing insecurity. In 2023, the Athens Homeless Coalition counted 342 homeless individuals, likely a low estimate due to data collection difficulties.

Council is considering allowing The Gathering Place to erect three dry, warm and safe microshelters, called Conestoga huts. Among the many testimonies were accounts of homeless people who lost a leg or their lives sleeping in the cold. Proponents emphasized the need for approval before winter.

The shelters are slated for the parking lot shared by The Gathering Place and affiliate male sober living facility Mike's Bridge House. The Gathering Place has helped Athens residents for nearly 50 years. It said the Conestoga huts would begin as a pilot program.

The site is surrounded primarily by student housing, and is about 200 feet from Athens Middle School. It is also just blocks from Court Street, the primary Uptown street in Athens that is home to a number of bars and student apartments.

Students like Perry said they appreciated what the huts would do, but they would not feel safe living next to them. Athens resident Jack Stauffer said he represents a small group of businessmen and residents concerned by how the huts might affect aesthetics and Ohio University, the regions largest economic contributor.

"We are concerned about the image of our town," Stauffer said. "We don't want a homeless encampment one block from Court Street."

Athens resident Aaron Leatherwood also disagreed with the site selection. He said drug offenses carry larger penalties in proximity to the school, and recovery housing so close to a street frequently full of intoxicated students is not productive. He suggested alternate locations, but none have been made available.

To qualify for the Conestoga hut housing, residents must already be working with The Gathering Place and seeking permanent shelter. Residents must also agree to adhere to a wellness plan tracked by the nonprofit.

Huts will be unlocked at night to allow the people in to sleep, then locked up in the morning once they leave; the huts will then remain inaccessible during the day. The inexpensive huts offer small covered outdoor space with about 60 square feet inside with a lockable door and window, a twin bed and storage. They do not include kitchen or bathroom access, so residents will use nonprofit facilities and have access to a porta-john.

"I understand the concerns about the possibility of them getting alcohol and drugs, but that exists now. They’re out on the streets now. They have no shelter now," The Plains resident and Gathering Place member Nathan Crowley said. "For them, this gives them that one step."

Many speakers, including Crowley, have been victims of violent crimes perpetrated by homeless individuals. Many said desperation drives crime, and housing could help reduce threats to the public. Council member Solveig Spjeldnes said male students likely pose a bigger threat to female students than homeless people in recovery.

"I am not kicking any members of the (general public) out of my yard for urinating in the bushes or throwing beer cans at 3 a.m.," Lankas said. "I understand that student life is student life ... but also we, as a community and as adults, need to not shelter people from the fact that the world can be difficult sometimes."

Monday night's meeting included a public hearing and the first formal reading of the ordinance. Council members unanimously altered the ordinance language so that it must be reviewed and renewed every year by the city's service safety director. The ordinance is scheduled to be voted on at its third reading. City council next meets for a likely second reading on Nov. 3.