The City of Bloomington has announced plans to close the homeless tent encampment located in an overflow parking lot of Eastview Christian Church near downtown by mid-October and relocate the residents to an indoor shelter.
The city council is scheduled to vote during its regular meeting Monday on an emergency declaration that would enable the Salvation Army shelter to expand indoor capacity over the winter months.
“The city is taking these steps to plan for the immediate needs of the winter months, but it’s clear that we need a longer-term shelter strategy to address homelessness in our community,” City Manager Jeff Jurgens said in a news release.
The measure would waive fire and property maintenance code requirements for the shelter on the western edge of downtown. The city says other safety protocols will be put in place to ensure residents' safety.
The homeless started around October 2023 and grew over time. In April, Home Sweet Home Ministries capped the number of residents who could stay there for safety reasons. There are about 35 residents living in the encampment now, according to Matt Burgess, CEO of Home Sweet Home Ministries (HSHM).
Meanwhile, the city and area social service providers have been exploring ways to find places for the unsheltered community members to live in the midst of a communitywide housing shortage.
“The Salvation Army is prepared to welcome individuals who have no other place to go,” said Major Dan Leisher of The Salvation Army. He added Eastview Christian plans to contribute $50,000 to help pay for additional cots, bedding and overnight staffing.
"At Eastview, we believe in serving our community in times of need," said lead pastor Brandon Grant.
The city says outreach teams will work with those at the encampment to help move people off site.
Home Sweet Home Ministries, which is next door, has helped the unhoused with living arrangements and other services. It's said previously some residents are unable to stay indoors because they have not responded well to congregant settings.
Burgess said it's not clear if the HSHM shelter will be able to take on additional residents.
"HSHM is evaluating what capacity we might be able to add, but we have not determined what that number would be quite yet," he said.
