Urban Homeless Shelter Discusses Expansion Plans

SAVANNAH, Ga. () – It was a full house Tuesday at Savannah’s Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) meeting as the community discussed how to address homelessness.

The Inner City Night Shelter off President Street near the Eastern Wharf would like to expand its capacity.

Yvonne Pryor, the shelter’s executive director, said in an ideal world, she would double the capacity.

“As far as doubling the capacity, that would really be nice but that’s really unrealistic for us,” she said.

There are other ways to meet the need, she said, such as replacing the vacant house next to shelter with a new building that includes more bed space and classrooms for social work.

Pryor told audience members that need is greater now more than ever.

“Now I’m seeing younger people ages 18-24, and if we don’t help them now, in 20 years, they are still going to be homeless, so we have to address that now. It’s a reality that I look at every day,” Pryor said.

Some in the audience were completely sold on the idea and offered other solutions, such as Eastern Wharf resident Brett Kaufman.

“Based on what you’ve shared with us, that even this expansion will not be able to provide the services to the number of people relying on services in Savannah, does it make sense to pause?” he said.

“Work with the community, members of the DNA, local politicians, and the police department, to take another look at that, and find another facility, not necessarily buy, but perhaps lease another facility that would be retro-fitted to provide for the future benefit of the homeless population here in Savannah,” Kaufman continued.

The next meeting that involves the discussion of the shelter expansion will be April 15.

The expansion plans will then be voted on by Savannah City Council.