SHREVEPORT, La. - A plan to expand homeless services in Shreveport could move forward at Providence House if the Shreveport City Council approves the nonprofit's rezoning request.Â
The proposed redevelopment would transform a storage facility adjacent to the Providence House campus into a housing complex with a four-story apartment building and four single-family homes.
Providence House was originally designed to serve a smaller population of single women in a dormitory-style setting. Today, the nonprofit provides housing and support services for families experiencing homelessness.
At the Shreveport MPC meeting earlier this month, Executive Director Sharpel Welch said the current facility is operating at full capacity and dozens of families are on a wait list to receive shelter.Â
"There is a constant need and we are just bursting at the seams. Right now, we have 73 families on the waiting list," said Welch.
The expansion project would require a rezoning change because the city's 2016 Unified Development Code prohibits group homes, shelters and detached single-family homes in the area.
Project architect Christopher Coe said the proposal aligns with the city's long-term plans for downtown development.
"The proposed rezoning is consistent with the intent of the master plan and does not pose any undue hardship or adversity for surrounding uses. Also what seems to be curious to me about this prohibition on a group home, is that I think federal law does not allow you to discriminate with land use," Coe said.
The project is supported by a Bloomberg-funded initiative and is intended to help families move from emergency shelter to permanent housing and eventual homeownership.
The Shreveport City Council will introduce the rezoning legislation for the first time at its meeting Tuesday. A final vote is scheduled for July 14.
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