Council votes to allow homeless shelters in OI


The Henderson City Council voted unanimously on Monday night to allow homeless shelters in the Occupational/Institutional (OI) zone in the city with a special use permit.

Henderson City Council member Bernard Alston was absent from Monday’s meeting.

Formerly, homeless shelters were only allowed in B2A and OIA zones only.

During the required public hearing, Paul Baxley, the pastor of Henderson’s First Baptist Church spoke in favor of the amendment in order to bring to life a men’s homeless shelter that is being planning in partnership with other churches, the Maria Parham Medical Center, and the Five County Mental Health Authority. That facility will be located at Baxley’s church on Wyche Street in Henderson.

Responding to questions from the council members, Baxley said that the shelter would be in a space “where doors lead only to the outside world”, meaning that they do not communicate with the interior of the church. He said that questions of security had been addressed in consultation with Lt. Irvin Robinson of the Henderson Police Department.

Operating hours of the facility will be from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. With a maximum capacity of 20, the first 20 to register will be able to stay.

Member Garry Daeke told fellow council members that there is a great deal of support for the shelter from the First Presbyterian Church.

Currently, Vance County has no homeless shelters for men. The nearest facility is in Granville County, and it only has six beds.

City Attorney John Zollicoffer cautioned council members that the discussion should not be centered on a single shelter, but on whether or not a homeless shelter of any type should be permitted in the area.

Before the vote, member Mary Emma Evans said that the issue was “one of the better things that has come before this council in a long time.”

The council also passed the following zoning changes:

  • Two lots were changed from R6 to B2 at the request of Gate City Foods; and
  • Tailors were permitted in the OIA zone as a matter of right.