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Center of Hope breaks ground, meets opposition
As the Good Shepherd Alliance broke ground Oct. 22 for its new Center of Hope in Ashburn, representatives of the nonprofit group were met with not only a lot of encouragement, but also some opposition.
After reading about the center that will provide services for the county's homeless, Ashburn resident Melanie Bancroft attended the groundbreaking ceremony to voice her concerns regarding its location. Bancroft brought with her a petition she says contains about 100 signatures from neighbors.
Center of Hope is not a homeless shelter. Once built -- by the beginning of next year, as planned by Good Shepherd board members -- it will provide a drop-in center and thrift store to the homeless, and become administrative offices for GSA. The new center will consolidate the thrift store, now based in Sterling, with offices in Leesburg at a more centralized location.
“I like this group,” Bancroft said. “But this effort is misguided. It is creating a problem where one doesn't exist.”
Bancroft fears, she said, that some of those who will visit the center will end up loitering in the close-by Ashburn neighborhood.
“Look at who makes up the population,” Bancroft said. “Those with addictions -- alcohol and drugs -- mental illness, and now those on parole leave are being processed.”
The center is next to the Ashburn Volunteer Fire Station and "a stone's throw" from Bancroft's house.
“This is a residential area. Why in the world? What were they thinking about? We are the kindergarten capital of the world,” Bancroft said.
The 1.2-acre Center of Hope property is zoned for commercial use, and the center is being built according to county plans.
GSA executive director Lyle Werner is offended by Bancroft's comments about the "'type" of people the center would serve.
“Homeless people are no different than anyone else," Werner said. "She obviously has no knowledge of the homeless in our community.”
Werner said the Loudoun homeless community does not fit into the national stereotype of the homeless.
“They are not all drug addicts and alcoholics,” Werner said, adding that more people are in need because of bank foreclosures on houses, especially in the Ashburn area. Werner said that background checks are run on everyone in the center, even the volunteers.
“The center does take the destitute, the sick, the hurt, the abused, the unloved,” said Mark Gunderman, vice chair of the GSA board of directors. “Some are on the edge, but not all of them.”
“Many are single mothers with children,” Gunderman added. “Some of the men live in cars but have jobs. They are working and need services.”
Gunderman said last year 350 people lived in the three GSA homeless shelters, which are in Ashburn, Leesburg and Purcellville.
“When they need clothes, we give them clothes. When they need food, we give them food. We register the children in public schools. But everyone has to show improvement to stay in the shelters,” Gunderman said.
“[The homeless] are there,” Gunderman said. “Why do people think they don't exist?”
Bancroft said she will continue to get her petition against the location of the center signed by more residents, and she planned to speak about the issue at the Ashburn Village Homeowners Association meeting Oct. 23.
Contact the reporter at lwolstenholme@timespapers.com
As an Ashburn resident for the past several years, I believe Melanie Bancroft raises some valid concerns.The GSA exec. director Lyle Werner claims to be "offended" by Melanie's comment about the "type" of people the center would serve. He continues to say that, "Homeless people are no different than anyone else,"and, "she has obviously no knowledge of homeless in our community" Werner, also mentions that the Loudoun homeless do not fit into the national sterotype. Well Mr. Werner, we are not dealing with "types" of people or "sterotypes". What we are dealing with is known facts & statistics. And,the Loudoun County homeless are no different. Do you know why Melanie Bancroft(as well as many residents surrounding GSA) have no knowledge of the homeless is our community, because we have not had to deal with this issue earlier. Who in their right mind would place & approve a center that provides services to the homeless in such a bucolic area as Ashburn, VA? With such nice communties & schools, this would be a breeding ground for potential problems. So, if the residents of Ashburn, VA are willing to risk a decline in their property values, homeless individuals loitering in the neighborhood, crime to increase, and taxes to increase to offset the xtra police presence needed. Oh, I almost forgot - if you don't mind constanly scanning your surroundings and being concerned for the safety of your children. Basically, the way we live now could be shattered. So, if this doesn't bother you - sit back & enjoy! If any of this does concern you, then I urge you to support Melanie Bancroft to stop GSA from going forward. Remember, GSA's initial intention was misleading to the residents. GSA's intentions were to get a footprint into the community & pull at people's heartstings to get what they wanted. I can't help but wonder what other surprises they have in store for us - maybe a used car lot!
Posted by crackers
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Wow like the old saying goes been there done that.Seen it in NY,OH,FL and now Va.No matter where these wonderful originization go to help the unfortunates,the battered women there is always somebody OH NO NOT IN MY BACK YARD.But in reality I would rather have a young mother that was battered by a husband and has no where to go except GSA then a registered SEX OFFENDER living in my block where my children have to walk by (his or hers sex offenders) house everyday.Think about it folks of Ashburn.There is between 8-13 offenders living in your area.That does not include preditors.
One more thing I think if you look into GSA very closely you will see this has to do with WOMEN only.
Correct me if I am wrong.
Posted by mail92
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