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In a sudden turn of events, the small city of South Bend, Indiana found itself at the heart of discord on the date of January 22, 2024. This was the day when the school board revealed an unexpected plan to sell off a 5.16-acre piece of its property located at 3003 N Bendix Dr for a sum of $277,750 ($54,000/acre). The catch? The property was earmarked for the construction of a controversial low-barrier shelter for the homeless, where the occupants could freely use drugs and alcohol.
The news was met with a storm of dissatisfaction from various corners of the community - local residents, property and business owners, employees who expressed feelings of betrayal over the covert talks between the City of South Bend and Our Lady of the Road. The disgruntlement was particularly profound among local entrepreneurs who believed they should have had an opportunity to place bids for the land with the intent to expand their businesses.
The city made attempts to calm the brewing storm by highlighting the site's strategic location near grocery stores and public transportation. However, the community remained unconvinced. The proposed benefits including the accessibility to bus routes and grocery stores were met with skepticism, as such facilities are relatively ubiquitous in South Bend, and the nearest grocery outlet was nearly a mile away across hazardous intersections and a sidewalk-less path.
What could be the motive behind this decision? Shuffling homelessness off to an out-of-the-way location does not present a solution, but simply relocates the problem. It also highlights the issue of decision-making without comprehensive planning and public participation, which does not serve the best interests of the homeless, the local community or the city at large.
Tensions escalated when the South Bend Redevelopment Commission was on the brink of giving the green signal to the $277,750 ($54,000/acre) purchase agreement for the land on January 25th, 2024. A large public turnout opposing the decision forced the board to delay the decision. Notably, only one speaker was in favor of the proposal.
The public outcry was focused on a glaring lack of transparency, with usual notifications about the agenda and meeting conspicuously missing. This fed suspicions of intentional secrecy surrounding the contract's details. Doubts were further fueled by the city's willingness to acquire the land without well-defined plans for its utilization, thereby potentially squandering $277,750 ($54,000/acre) while several community issues remain to be addressed.
The proposed location for the homeless shelter also raises eyebrows, considering that the majority of current resources for the homeless are concentrated downtown or in close proximity. Relocating the homeless away from these crucial resources seems counterintuitive and lacks empathy.
REDRESS SOUTH BEND SUGGESTION:
A potential alternate location could be the former FUN F/X Building situated at 1000 W Sample St, South Bend, IN 46619. The building was gutted by fire and currently stands as an eyesore and a public nuisance. Reports of suspicious activities within the ruined structure are also a safety concern. This proposed site lies in the path of a bus route, near a police station, closer to other existing homeless programs and crucial city resources like the Library, making it a logical choice to consider and evaluate.
Here is the South Bend school board's discussion:
Here are some "Google Earth" photo's of the "accessible walk to Meijer's."
The walk continues..., but I believe you have a better understanding of the path.