Negotiations underway. Coco Colby Terrell reports on the situation. A group of downtown Norman businesses have banded together to ask the city to close a nearby homeless shelter. But the shelter’s operators say they don’t think that will solve the problem. We’re currently working with the City Attorney’s Office to negotiate amendments to the contract, but once the contract is finalized between the City Attorney’s Office and our board, it will go to a City Council vote. And when that happens, local businesses will ask the Norman City Council to close the emergency shelter while they search for a new location. Downtown businesses have sent this petition to the city, asking for it to be closed. Even after 30 days since July 2, the shelter side doesn’t think that’s good for Norman. This will only make the problem worse. In multiple Facebook posts, these business owners are urging people to sign the petition and send it to the city before they vote. They say it’s been difficult to operate their business, there have been multiple disruptions, and it’s also an increased safety risk. Food & Shelter, which runs a friend’s house, says they understand the situation. “I understand the concerns of the neighboring businesses around the shelter, and the perspective of the homeless themselves. But they don’t agree that this location should be closed, even if they would prefer to open in a new location. Ultimately, closing the shelter won’t make the situation better. It will only make it worse. The 52 people who are outside downtown and in nearby parks have nowhere else to go. It’s unclear when the vote will be, but the City Council is expected to discuss the contract before the next public vote.”
Norman businesses come together to ask city to close homeless shelter
A group of Norman businesses has banded together to ask the city to close a homeless shelter in their neighborhood, but the shelter’s operator says he doesn’t think that will solve the problem.
Updated: July 6, 2024 10:35 AM CDT
A group of Norman businesses have banded together to ask the city to close a nearby homeless shelter, but the shelter operator says he doesn’t think that will solve the problem. Click here to get the latest news that interests you. “We’re working with the city attorney’s office to discuss amending the contract. Once a contract is in place between the city attorney’s office and the board, it will be put to a vote by the city council,” said April Dossier, executive director of Food and Shelter Inc. If that happens, local businesses are asking the Norman City Council to close the emergency shelter while they search for a new location. Businesses in downtown Norman have sent a petition to the city to close the shelter for 30 days, starting July 2. The shelter side doesn’t think that’s good for Norman. “It’s really just going to make the problem worse,” Dossier said. >> Download the KOCO 5 app In multiple Facebook posts, business owners are urging people to sign petitions and send them to the city before the vote. They said it’s making it hard to do business, causing multiple disruptions to businesses and increasing safety risks. “I understand the concerns of the neighboring businesses around the shelter and the perspective of the homeless themselves,” Dossier said. But while he would like to eventually move to a new location, he doesn’t agree that the location should be closed. “Closing the shelter will not improve the situation, it will only make it worse. We will have 52 people sheltering outside of downtown and in nearby parks who have nowhere else to go,” Dossier said. It’s unclear when a vote will take place, but the City Council is expected to discuss the contract before its next General Assembly meeting on July 9. TOP STORIESFireworks burst across the country as Americans brave scorching heat to celebrate Independence DayOhio Department of Health responds to three drownings at Oklahoma lake on Independence DayAmber Alert issued for two missing children in TulsaI-35 narrows to one lane at I-44 due to crashWhat items are included in Oklahoma’s grocery tax cut? What you need to know
NORMAN, Oklahoma —
A group of Norman businesses has banded together to ask the city to close a homeless shelter in their neighborhood, but the shelter’s operator says he doesn’t think that will solve the problem.
Click here to get the latest news stories that interest you.
“We are currently in discussions with the city attorney’s office regarding amending the contract. Once the contract is finalized between the city attorney’s office and our board, it will go to a vote of the City Council,” Food and Shelter Inc. Executive Director April Dossier said.
And if that happens, local businesses are asking Norman City Council to close the emergency shelter while they search for a new location.
The businesses, located in downtown Norman, have sent a petition to the city asking for the shelter to be closed for 30 days starting July 2. The shelter said they don’t think it would be good for Norman.
“This is really just going to make the problem worse,” Dossier said.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app
In multiple Facebook posts, business owners are urging people to sign the petition and send it to the city before voting.
It said operations have become difficult, there have been repeated disruptions to operations and safety risks have increased.
“I understand the concerns of the neighboring businesses around the shelter and how they view the homeless issue itself,” Dossier said.
But they have not agreed to closing the location, even though they hope to eventually relocate to a new location.
“Closing the shelter won’t make the situation better, it will just make it worse. 52 people will be evacuated outside of downtown and to a nearby park with nowhere else to go,” Dossier said.
It is unclear when a vote will take place, but the City Council is expected to discuss the contract before its next meeting on July 9.
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