St. Cloud City Council Allocates Funds for Avivo Homeless Shelter Near Costco

(KNSI) — The St. Cloud City Council passed a measure allocating Community Development Block Grant funds to help with the design of a potential Avivo low barrier homeless shelter.

The vote was 6-1, with Council President Jeff Goerger and councilmembers Mike Conway and Karen Larson all voting for it. They specifically mentioned the issues at the Lincoln Center, which is also a low barrier shelter, meaning there are fewer restrictions to get a bed there. Proponents noted Lincoln Center has poisoned the well for many when it comes to building a homeless shelter in the area. The neighborhood around it had been rife with trouble, including open drug use, prostitution, vandalizing of area businesses, harassment of customers, trespassing and other crimes.

Those who voted in favor believe Avivo staff is better trained, has more resources and can run a shelter correctly.

The only no vote was councilman George Hontos. He took exception to voting on this shelter two weeks before a public hearing on the issue, claiming that it forced members to show their cards before hearing from the community.

Businessman Jeff Sell tells KNSI News that his development plans near the site at 31st Avenue South and 1st Street South would implode with a shelter there. “It would be senseless to put in retail with a homeless center behind us. I think the big issue is the four banks, the four car dealerships and all the retail outlets that’s surrounding it, nobody’s opposed to the project. It’s the location.”

He is willing to go into his own pocket to ensure the land is used for something else. “I think that’s a beautiful site. I think we would all as a group, if everybody knew about this deal that’s surrounding the area, we’d all pitch in to put a nice little park there.”

Sell is similarly frustrated by the lack of outreach from city officials, and what he considers secrecy. He said he only heard about the proposal in late February through local media reports.

The shelter would be on one acre and have 56 units. The price tag is expected to be $9 million, or about $161,000 per unit (Note: This article initially said per person but has been changed to a more accurate term.)

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