For many years, The Haven on 3300 South in Millcreek was an assisted living facility, until the owners recently put it up for sale and had to relocate all the residents, city officials said.
Recently, Switchpoint, a nonprofit that runs homeless shelters, purchased this building, but they want neighbors to know that this will not be another shelter.
Dozens of Millcreek neighbors packed into the dining room at The Haven Wednesday night to voice their concerns about who will soon be living in the building during a community meeting.
“Nobody wants it in their neighborhood,” said James Drouday. “There’s no curfew, which really bothers me because that means people can come and go as they need to work and walk out and do whatever, who knows who’s going to walk out on 33rd and maybe get hit. Once they can’t pay rent anymore, they’re free to go. Well, where are they going to go? Right in our neighborhoods.”
Switchpoint plans to turn the haven into permanent housing for people diagnosed with a mental illness, said CEO Carol Hollowell.