COLUMBIA, MO -- The Columbia City Council Monday night unanimously approved $55,000 worth of funding for a transitional housing development for homeless and troubled youth.The project is a partnership between Central Missouri Community Action and Rainbow House and will be located on a vacant lot at 1001 North 7th Street near Hickman High School.
Just moments before Monday night's city council vote, five people spoke in favor of the development. One person who spoke out against it is a North 7th Street resident of nearly 40 years.
Jeff Adams says, "My concern is that this is a residential neighborhood. I feel their purpose is good. I don't feel like it's a good location to put it there. It's just not residential."
But CMCA director Darin Preis says the neighborhood is exactly where the project needs to be to help troubled youth.
Preis says, "There's troubled youth in the area now and they don't have anything productive to do with their time. We know that when people are struggling and they don't have any options; a lot of times they make decisions that are bad for their futures and the community."
Preis says as the project moves forward he will work to keep neighbors and residents safe.
Preis says, "We'll have cameras. So, there will be surveillance around the clock. We want to make sure it's safe and secure for both the residents and the neighbors."
Preis says they could potentially break ground this Spring.
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