BY ROBIN KNEPPER
Orange County supervisors are looking at a new use for the former Sheltering Arms building now that the homeless shelter has closed and the need for it appears to no longer exist.
The homeless shelter in the town of Orange closed at the end of October due to state funding cuts.
The Department of Social Services and local churches worked together to take those needing overnight accommodations to Culpeper County, where local churches would provide assistance.
But no one took advantage of the Culpeper offer to feed and bed the Orange County homeless, and many people keeping an eye on the situation wondered what happened to those who had occupied the 43 beds at Sheltering Arms.
When asked about the homeless population at the time, Orange Police Chief Jim Fenwick reported that there were only two homeless men in the town and neither was interested in assistance.
Now the Orange County Ministers Association and the Social Services Department concur: Orange doesn’t have a homelessness problem anymore. Where the Sheltering Arms residents have gone remains a mystery.
REPAIRS TO BE ESTIMATED
But the now-empty building the shelter occupied on North Madison Road needs attention, and several groups—including the Board of Supervisors—are thinking about how best to use the county-owned building.
County building official Bill Schwind looked at the building last week and told supervisors Tuesday night that it needs a lot of repair work, maintenance, cleaning and updating. A firm under contract with the county will inspect the building and provide a cost estimate for the supervisors to consider in March.
County Administrator Julie Jordan said Orange Baptist Church Pastor Rick Clore has suggested that area churches might be willing to provide free labor for the repairs if the county would provide the materials and designate the building for a “community purpose.”
According to Clore, that would include use as a meeting hall, teen center, elder-adult center, dental clinic or free clinic. Other possible uses for the building will be discussed in the community, Jordan said.
In the meantime, the building will be winterized at the request of the supervisors.
MEETING TIME ALTERED
In other business Tuesday, supervisors agreed to change the time of their twice-a-month meetings to 4 p.m. after Supervisor Lee Frame withdrew his objection to a later starting time suggested by Chairman Teel Goodwin two weeks ago.
Frame had objected that residents who wished to be heard on agenda items and could not make it to the earlier meetings would be left out because the public-comment period took place at 7 p.m., after action by the board.
Supervisor Shannon Abbs suggested that a second public-comment period be added at the beginning of the 4 p.m. meeting. Speakers wanting to address a specific agenda item would have to notify the board to have it considered after 7 p.m.
The changes will be voted on Feb. 14 and take effect Feb. 28.
The board also agreed to send the Planning Commission revisions to the subdivision ordinance and asked that the commission act on them by Feb. 17. The supervisors voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing on the changes for Feb. 28.
The three supervisors elected last November each appointed a member of the Planning Commission from his district, to be effective April 1. Newly elected District 2 Supervisor Jim White appointed George Yancey, Frame reappointed Nigel Goodwin and Goodwin reappointed Donald Brooks.
Robin Knepper: 540/972-5701
rknepper@earthlink.net
