Chris Proffitt/Eyewitness News
Anderson - A homeless shelter in Anderson planning renovations ran into a new state law prohibiting sex offenders from living within a thousand feet of a school. It was supposed to be temporary housing for some offenders until some concerned parents got involved.
The major renovation at Anderson's Christian Center Rescue Mission has hit a wall.
"We're in an over 100-year-old building that getting gutted on the second and third floors to make room for more appropriate housing for our homeless men," said Scott Richards, executive director. Christian Center Rescue Mission.
The plan was to move nearly 40 residents of the shelter to another facility for three to four months to make way for the construction. Richards says before he committed to the temporary move, he let it be known that 13 of the men are registered sex offenders.
"We notified everyone we knew to notify. As far as due diligence goes, we thought we'd done it," said Richards.
Despite an okay from parole officers, law enforcement and officials at nearby St. Mary's School, the men, who stayed only one night, were forced to leave because of a a six-month-old state law that prohibits sex offenders from living within one thousand feet of a school. Some school parents contacted police last week, which told the Rescue Mission that the men couldn't stay. They were immediately returned.
"That combined with concerns from parents - we don't want to cause alarm or any unrest because that's not the point," said Richards.
It was a lesson in the law for a mission that's fed, clothed and housed the poor and homeless for over 50 years. The mission is now searching for a Plan B and nearly a quarter million dollars to complete a renovation that's now on hold.
The men wouldn't have been at the temporary housing during school hours and were restricted to the building with extra security. The mission still hopes to have those renovations complete by spring.
