Fort Wayne, Indiana – The City Council voted 5‑3 on Tuesday night to reject the $2.75 million funding request that Mayor Sharon Tucker had presented to the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission. The money would have been used to acquire and convert a building at 333 East Washington Boulevard into the proposed Anchor Resource Center, a 24‑hour, low‑barrier shelter designed to serve roughly 150 people daily with housing assistance, mental‑health counseling, workforce training, showers and other basic services.
Vote split along party lines
All five Republican council members – Paul Ensley, Russ Jehl, Nathan Hartman, Marty Bender and Tom Freistroffer – voted against the allocation. The three Democratic members – Geoff Paddock, Rohli Booker and Michelle Chambers – supported it. The vote reflects a growing debate in the community over how best to address visible homelessness in downtown Fort Wayne.
Mayor’s rationale
Mayor Tucker argued that the center would alleviate the current strain on downtown businesses, where people are already sleeping on doorsteps and using restrooms near storefronts. She said the facility, combined with appropriate enforcement, could move individuals off sidewalks and into a coordinated system of services, ultimately reducing the burden on merchants.
Opposition concerns
Critics warned that the downtown location could harm local businesses, increase police workload, and affect a nearby elementary school. Councilman Russ Jehl warned that the area was already “becoming less vibrant” because of existing homelessness services and cautioned against expanding them further. Council President Marty Bender echoed concerns about potential pressure on police response times.
Pastor Joe Hoem of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and School, whose congregation lives just 582 feet from the proposed site, expressed support for the concept of a low‑barrier shelter but urged that it be sited elsewhere to protect children.
Council members’ statements
Councilwoman Rohli Booker emphasized that helping people survive homelessness does not mean encouraging them to remain homeless, and that the city can pursue compassion without sacrificing economic development. Councilwoman Michelle Chambers highlighted the human face of the issue, noting a woman she has repeatedly seen sleeping in a wheelchair downtown.
Councilman Paul Ensley suggested an alternative location at 4133 New Haven Avenue, arguing that a different site might better serve the community’s goals of sobriety, employment and self‑sufficiency. Councilman Tom Freistroffer said he was not convinced the plan was “the right plan,” though he did not label it a bad idea.
Future outlook
Mayor Tucker warned that without a dedicated building, the city’s ability to provide coordinated services will be hampered, though she pledged to continue supporting the Anchor Resource Center’s programs wherever possible. The council’s decision leaves the downtown homelessness strategy in limbo, and city officials may need to revisit site selection and funding options in the coming months.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
