Two Bremerton City Council members said they would no longer support a proposed homeless shelter project on Sheridan Road during a multi-hour meeting Wednesday, Jan. 14. The comments came as a significant rebuke of a project that could provide a clear path to building a long-coveted shelter, after a process of about two years that began at the council’s direction.
Leaders from four nonprofit agencies – the Bremerton Housing Authority, Kitsap Mental Health Services, Kitsap Community Resources, and St. Vincent DePaul – came to the meeting at city hall to once again discuss what’s called a “hybrid shelter” project, which was proposed publicly in September. The group has proposed building a type of campus along Sheridan Road at Lower Wheaton Way that features an 80-bed congregate shelter, 60 pallet shelters, and wrap-around services to help individuals into permanent housing.
The coalition leaders asked whether the council would support the project, but left without a clear answer. While two councilmembers, Denise Frey and Jennifer Chamberlin, expressed outright opposition, the council collectively pushed off a decision until later this month, even as deadlines begin to pile up. The council is scheduled to resume the discussions at a meeting on Jan. 28…