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MINITTS OF THF REGULAR ORONO Cm' COUNCIL <br />MEETING HELD ON JUNE 12, 1995 <br />(#4 - Adult Shelter - Continued) <br />Don Shervcn, who lives on NavTirre Lane, said he has been a resident for 30 years, and <br />his unclf built the Navarre area Sherven questioned whether the business people of <br />Navarre were notified or asked their opinion of the shelter Peterson said the public was <br />notified. Sherven said the people who live in the area have their lives on the bne and is <br />concerned with the environment if the shelter were to come to pass. <br />Dan Hessburg responded to the visit to the Sojourner Shelter by Clair Rood. He read a <br />lener from Sue Aumer, who is Executiv e Director of Sojourner, which Aumer ^?ys <br />corrects misinformation received by Rood when he visited the shelter. The letter is part <br />of this packet. <br />Val Hessburg said the model chosen for Westonka was not Sojourner but Alexander <br />Lewis House. Investigations were conducted of 20 shelters Lewis House has two <br />shelters, one in Eagan and one in Inver Grove Heights One shelter is in a R-4 multi­ <br />housing zoning and the other in institutional zoning They house 25 and 15. These <br />shelters are in touch with their neighborhoods and have received no complaints. The <br />management of Westonka would come from this area. The Department ot Corrections <br />set guidelines but policy would be set up by the board. Over 2^00 victims were served <br />and over 3000 children by the Lewis House Shelters. <br />Hessburg responded to why sate houses would not be an appropriate alternative. The <br />victims are in need of more support than can be had at a safe house. They are also in <br />need of a longer stay than three days There are programs within the shelter to assi« <br />people. Victims staying in safe houses feel they are imposing as the owner is not paid; <br />whereas in the shelter, staff is paid. The shelter is expected to expand to the greater Lake <br />Minnetonka area Hessburg noted that areas further west, such as Carver County, have <br />no shelters. Hessburg's opinion is that the beds will be filled. <br />Sheri Block, 2305 Bayview Place, commented on the letter from Sojourner's Executive <br />Director, Aumer Block specifically referred to the first paragraph on the second page, <br />which addresses the issue of racism as well as other forms of hatred/violence, which <br />Aumer says arc bound to arise as you shelter battered women and children. Block said <br />she did not want racism, hatred, and violence to come to this area. She felt the victims <br />should be placed out on farms and raise their own food if they didn't have the money, and <br />V in bused back to where they came from. She thought people should get the help they <br />needed but not in Navarre.