A proposed homeless shelter in Columbia County has some people in Bloomsburg concerned, but the organization hoping to build the shelter said the town desperately needs it.
Officials with the Agape Foundation in Bloomsburg said helping out homeless men is especially difficult, and there is more of a need than ever before.
The Agape Foundation offers help to anyone who needs it in its warehouse on East Seventh Street in Bloomsburg.
It has a food bank and offers furniture and appliances to people down on their luck. Since Agape opened two years ago, the number of homeless who have showed up at the door has gone up significantly.
"Our first year of being open, for the full year, we helped 54 homeless individuals. This year just from January to July, we've assisted 55," said Kimberly Nearhoof-O'Malley of Agape.
Agape is in the process of starting a homeless shelter that would go in a second story of the warehouse and would house up to eight men. The shelter would be the first of its kind in Columbia County.
Nearhoof-O'Malley said in the past, Agape has had to send men to Williamsport or Wilkes Barre.
"And I think, we think, the need has always been there. We just have not been aware of it because they're invisible and there really hasn't been a place for them to go," Nearhoof-O'Malley added.
Because of where it's located, some of Agape's neighbors are concerned. The executive director of the YMCA said he is concerned Agape will take in recently-released inmates from the Columbia County jail.
Neighbors living near Agape said they are not worried about the proposed shelter, and they know the need is there.
"They're not hurting nobody. They're just trying to make a living too, and they're human beings just like they are," said neighbor marlin Reedy of Bloomsubrg.
Agape officials said they recently had a few setbacks getting variances from the town of Bloomsburg for the shelter, but they hope to start construction by the end of September.
Officials with the Agape Foundation in Bloomsburg said helping out homeless men is especially difficult, and there is more of a need than ever before.
The Agape Foundation offers help to anyone who needs it in its warehouse on East Seventh Street in Bloomsburg.
It has a food bank and offers furniture and appliances to people down on their luck. Since Agape opened two years ago, the number of homeless who have showed up at the door has gone up significantly.
"Our first year of being open, for the full year, we helped 54 homeless individuals. This year just from January to July, we've assisted 55," said Kimberly Nearhoof-O'Malley of Agape.
Agape is in the process of starting a homeless shelter that would go in a second story of the warehouse and would house up to eight men. The shelter would be the first of its kind in Columbia County.
Nearhoof-O'Malley said in the past, Agape has had to send men to Williamsport or Wilkes Barre.
"And I think, we think, the need has always been there. We just have not been aware of it because they're invisible and there really hasn't been a place for them to go," Nearhoof-O'Malley added.
Because of where it's located, some of Agape's neighbors are concerned. The executive director of the YMCA said he is concerned Agape will take in recently-released inmates from the Columbia County jail.
Neighbors living near Agape said they are not worried about the proposed shelter, and they know the need is there.
"They're not hurting nobody. They're just trying to make a living too, and they're human beings just like they are," said neighbor marlin Reedy of Bloomsubrg.
Agape officials said they recently had a few setbacks getting variances from the town of Bloomsburg for the shelter, but they hope to start construction by the end of September.
