Published May 02, 2008 04:40 pm - Melissa Randolph says she is praying that she won’t have to sleep on the streets very long. “I don’t know, I’ll have to just pitch a tent in the back or sleep where I can,” said Randolph, who has been staying at a homeless shelter whose grace period is about to come to an end.
Shelter operation’s grace period set to expire w/ City of Refuge audio slide show
By Greg Grisolano
ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com
Melissa Randolph says she is praying that she won’t have to sleep on the streets very long.
“I don’t know, I’ll have to just pitch a tent in the back or sleep where I can,” said Randolph, who has been staying at a homeless shelter whose grace period is about to come to an end.
About 30 other people have been staying at the refuge also most likely will be seeking a new place to stay now that the 60-day window to continue the shelter operations is coming to a close.
Joplin’s city attorney said the cease-and-desist order applies to the shelter aspect of City of Refuge only, and the other services offered there, including a food pantry and church, will not be ordered shut down.
“We’re not going to start kicking people into the street,” City Attorney Brian Head said. “What will happen is that Sunday morning, we’ll go see if there are still people sheltering down there. If there are, we’ll issue a notice of violation.”
Head said the 60-day window will close at midnight tonight.
“There’s no desire to come down hard on folks who find themselves homeless, but there are a lot of concerns about protection of life safety in that facility,” he said. “Ultimately we need to move forward with this location ceasing to be a shelter.”
The City Council will consider a motion to grant an extension of time to Dan Anderson, the founder and pastor of City of Refuge, according to Joplin Mayor Gary Shaw.
Anderson could not be reached via phone or at City of Refuge for comment Friday.
Shaw, who serves as a vice president of Central Christian Center, said he supports the group’s mission, but is concerned about the city’s liability in the event of an accident.
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