Proposed homeless day center looking for new location due to public opposition

EUREKA – City of Eureka will seek new locations for a homeless day center following public opposition to the proposed site at Union and Wabash.
Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation sought to operate a day center at the former Runeburg Hall on Union Street as part of a six month pilot project.
The foundation had applied for nearly $50,000 in city grant funding, so the plan required council approval.
More than one hundred local residents turned out for a meeting about the proposal Thursday night. City Manager Greg Sparks said there was general support for the idea but not at that location.
Community members raised concerns about increased pedestrian traffic, crime and trash.
Eureka City Manager Greg Sparks “Kind of based on that we are going to be looking at other potential options. Don’t know if we have any other options at this point. This was really kind of an inexpensive way to try out a six month pilot project for a day use facility, but clearly from a neighborhood standpoint this was not a go.”