The IFC is doing great work to help our homeless get off the streets and start a better life, but they are extremely limited by the small size of facilities at the current location.

The Community House will provide further programs to allow our homeless to get off the homeless path, learn job skills, gain self-confidence, and become productively incorporated into our community.

Not only do I support the residential facility, but I also support the 17 emergency cots to be provided by Community House.

We have no other emergency facility in our community. I have heard of no other groups making plans to provide such emergency shelter. We cannot humanely let those in need of emergency shelter stay out in the cold rain and snow.

I've read community concerns related to the shelter being close to childcare facilities. I do not believe there is reason for concern.

My child attended United Church Preschool, and I would not have been concerned if Community House had been open at that time.

I am not afraid of homeless people. I may be afraid of dangerous people with weapons, and I want to protect my children from sex offenders, but those people can be found anywhere in our community at a range of socioeconomic levels.

I do not have concern that dangerous people will live at Community House, especially since I know that the IFC has strict rules that must be followed in order to stay there and participate in programs.

As a member of United Church of Chapel Hill, I look forward to being a neighbor of Community House.

I hope Chapel Hill can set a good example for other communities by showing respect to those that through unfortunate circumstances have become homeless.

Let's build Community House so that we can build a better community.

Julie DeCamp Palmer

Chapel Hill