Opposition to homeless facility continues to come forward

Lower Providence Township residents staunchly opposing a proposed supportive short term housing project for people experiencing homelessness affirmed their objections to municipal zoning officials last week.

Nearly 50 individuals voiced their concerns about the facility proposed on the grounds of Eagleville Hospital during a May 29 Lower Providence Township Zoning Hearing Board public comment session at Arcola Intermediate School.

“First, I want to take a minute and just tell everyone here who has fought for this over the last year: Be proud of yourselves, because the deck was stacked against us, and we’re still here in the fight,” said Lower Providence Township resident Kier Maloney.

“The community has spoken, and the answer is an overwhelming no,” said Audubon resident Chris Fink.

While a handful of residents expressed some support for the 60-bed initiative backed by the Philadelphia-based Resources for Human Development, most of those present were against it.

“The majority of us do not welcome RHD in our township,” said township resident Lucy Bove.

“This is not best for the residents. It’s that simple. Please do the right thing,” said township resident Tom Pagnotti.

Jude Schwegel, of Trooper, countered that it’s “something I would be proud to have in my township.”

“We need to let these people have a dignified place to stay and we need to give them support,” said Diane Helm, of Audubon.

Known as Genny’s Place, the project  would provide occupancy for up to 60 single adults ages 18 years and older from Montgomery County for 60-to-90 days and resources to help residents live on their own in regular housing. Residents would undergo a screening process to ascertain eligibility. While Eagleville Hospital operates a 347-bed addiction recovery facility, officials say it would remain separate from RHD’s housing and supportive services model.

Municipal zoning board members have conducted a series of hearings on the matter since January at Arcola Intermediate School. RHD appealed “a determination from the zoning officer denying the proposed use at this location” in the township’s R-1 Residential Institutional Overlay District. RHD is also “seeking an interpretation of the ordinance asserting supportive short-term housing is undefined by the ordinance,” according to a township zoning agenda.

Homelessness Rates Rising

The proposal has come about as Montgomery County deals with increasing homelessness since the closure of the Coordinated Homeless Outreach Center in Norristown. Findings from the Point-in-Time Count in January are not yet available, but officials estimate the number counted at around 500 people.

“I’ve lived here for 28 years. I’ve never seen a homeless person in Lower Providence Township,” said resident Brian Leggin.

Montgomery County officials have begun addressing the homelessness situation in recent months by taking a regional approach, executing leases for rooms at a Pottstown hotel and an office building in Lansdale that will soon become a 20-bed supportive short term housing facility, as well as receiving a variance from Norristown zoning board members in May for a planned facility in Norristown. Both the Lansdale and Norristown sites will be run by RHD.

Genny’s Place Saga

RHD has faced an uphill battle in recent years as it tried to find another brick-and-mortar space for Genny’s Place after the CHOC closure. Officials settled on the Eagleville Hospital grounds after initial interest for the old Harley-Davidson dealership along Trooper Road fell through.

The proposal drew swift opposition as community members launched a Concerned Citizens of Lower Providence Facebook page that attracted more than 1,400 members, an online petition amassing 1,583 signatures, as well as a t-shirt campaign, and digital billboard, culminating in a march protesting the project.

“We formed as a community this last year. It was an honor to fight with everyone. This last year, we were able to put Democrat and Republican to the side. We were just neighbors. We were just concerned citizens of Lower Providence,” Maloney said.

“At previous meetings, RHD, their representative, has belittled us, and has called us spoiled and they’ve tried to shame us into silence with the acronym ‘nimby.’ My response to this is ‘your darn right: not in my backyard.’ I’ll ask you what rational sane thinking person wants this in their backyard?” said Collegeville resident Patti Tabor.

Township officials paused proceedings in late April 2024 following the staunch public opposition. Civil litigation was filed the following month by RHD in Montgomery County Court.

RHD representatives have given a presentation on the matter and were present at several Lower Providence Township Board of Supervisor meetings and provided additional information that was made available on the township’s website. However, some residents were uneasy about the organization, their experience and transparency over the course of the hearings.

“Other than lovely high ideals and beautiful intentions, there’s no plan that has been shown to work, that is step by step this is how we do it. Haven’t heard it at all in all these meetings, and that is a real concern as I live very close to this,” said township resident Dr. Paul Bove. “So the faith piece is you’re asking us to have faith in the fact that you’re going to do due diligence in choosing individuals and making this wonderful utopia when we haven’t seen anything presented.”

The saga has highlighted ongoing discourse in an area that’s been long divided over the proposal.

“The way our town has responded to some of this I wasn’t proud to live in Lower Providence,” said township resident Karleen Caparro. “I think we’re better than this.”

“What I’ve heard from our neighbors here is there are those who are frightened and fearful about locating the RHD Genny’s Place at the Eagleville Hospital grounds. Many are just angry because they feel their voices are not heard. We hear you, however, your fears might be a bit overblown…” said township resident Nanette Lafors, as laughter and murmurs could be heard from the crowd.

Safety, Security Concerns

Residents time and time again have expressed concerns with security, safety concerns for children and proximity to nearby homes and schools.

“We would be inviting homeless encampments into our town park,” said township resident Victoria Gandar.

“We want our kids to play outside, roam freely without the worry of vagrants and transients lurking about,” Tabor said.

“I have no intention to raise my son amongst the homeless,” said Collegeville resident Michael Mahoney.

“I want to go on record saying I’m against it. [I’m] not against it because I’m against homelessness, I’m against it for the safety of my daughter,” said Eagleville resident Sean Fisher, who added that “my daughter’s going to be going to these schools. I don’t want her exposed to this.”

RHD Responds Ahead of Zoning Verdict

Owen Camuso, Resource for Human Development’s regional director for behavioral health and housing, responded to resident concerns in an interview with MediaNews Group following the hearing. He asserted “we have a right to this process,” adding that many resident remarks were filled with “misinformation.

“We’ve seen this through the past three years that there’s a lot of misinformation out there,” Camuso said. “I feel like a lot of the public comment from the opposition was a lot of misinformation … and a lot of stereotypical things,” Camuso said, reiterating relayed information and resources related to the project. He added “… a lot of that information has been twisted a little bit or misguided, and I think that we saw the same flavor tonight.”

“We’re not trying to break the rules,” Camuso said. “We’re going through the appropriate channels and we feel that we have an appropriate land use here and we still feel that we have an appropriate land use.”

Lower Providence Township Zoning Board members are expected to render a decision related to the matter at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 26 at the township building, 100 Parklane Drive.