1. Yes, it's a whole new look! Have questions or need help? Please post your question in the New Forum Questions thread Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Seeing tons of unread posts after the upgrade? See this thread for help. Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice

Homeless Shelter Coming to Ashburn - Meeting Oct.23

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by CdnJess, Oct 22, 2007.

  1. CdnJess

    CdnJess New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2006
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hi.
    I just received this piece of news from a member of the Broadlands MOM's Club. I thought I would pass this on as there will be a Board Meeting on Tuesday, 10/23 at 6 PM at the Lakes Recreation Center on Cheltenham Circle. It may be wise to have Broadlands HOA representation to hear/voice any concerns to the impact this will have to our neighbourhood.

    The details of the original email are below. Note that messages have modified to protect previous senders.

    Thank you.
    CDNjess

    You can link to the original article here:
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/20/AR2007102000018.html

    --------------------
    (ORIGINAL EMAIL)

    Hi Ladies, My husband just sent me this email from a friend of ours about the homeless shelter planned for Ashburn Road in Old Town, near the firehouse. I thought some of you might be interested in attending the meeting on the 23rd. Rachael

    -------------- Forwarded Message: --------------

    Subject: Fw: [MOMSClubofAshburnVA] Good Shepherd Aliiance homeless shelter
    Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:44:57 +0000

    Subject Fw: [MOMSClubofAshburnVA] Good Shepherd Aliiance homeless shelter

    FYI...........by t! he dance center off Ashburn Rd.

    -------------------------

    Sent: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 9:13 am
    Subject: Fwd: [MOMSClubofAshburnVA] Good Shepherd Aliiance homeless shelter

    Hello Bleu Dance, I thought you would be interested in the below
    discussion about a homeless meal center, shower location, and thrift shop
    next to the Ashburn Studio. The site will expand to 7,000 sq. ft. directly
    behind the dance studio and may cause some concern. The below discussion
    mentions a 10/23 meeting in Ashburn Village about the plans...

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/20/AR2007102000018.html


    -----Original Message-----
    Sent: Sun, 21 Oct 2007 10:59 pm
    Subject: [MOMSClubofAshbur! n] Good Shepherd Aliiance homeless shelter

    Ladies, BR>
    A parent on my son's soccer team sent out an email tonight about the new
    Good Shepherd Alliance homeless shelter that is about to be built on
    Ashburn Road (behind the fire station). I am copying his email to share
    the information with you. This shelter is something you should be aware
    of. There will be a board meeting on the matter on Tues. 10/23 at 6 PM at
    the Lakes Recreation Center on Cheltenham Circle. The opening of the
    shelter was detailed in the Washington Post's Loudoun Extra today. This
    new facility was made out to be just a thrift store and administrative
    offices, but will actually serve the daily needs of homeless individuals,
    some who have been released from prison and have nowhere else to go.

    Sincerely,
    Carol C.

    ASHBURN RESIDENTS: THIS EMAIL REFERS TO THE NEW HOMELESS SHELTER ABOUT TO
    BE BUILT ON ASHBURN ROAD. THE CONTENT IN THIS EMAIL AFFECTS ALL OF US
    THROUGHOUT ASHBURN, VA. PLEASE FOR! WARD IT ON TO AS MANY ASHBURN RESIDENTS
    AS POSSIBLE. WE CANNOT LET THIS NEW CENTER, WHICH HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY
    MANY OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES, ENDANGER OUR CHILDREN AND DEGRADE OUR PROPERTY
    VALUES! PLEASE COME TO THE ASHBURN VILLAGE BOARD MEETING TO VOICE YOUR
    CONCERNS ON TUES. OCT. 23 AT 6PM AT THE LAKES RECREATION CENTER ON
    CHELTENHAM CIRCLE.

    Ms. Waters...

    In today's Washington Post Loudoun Extra, some of the residents (not nearly
    as many that will in the coming days) in our community just found out about
    the groundbreaking for a homeless shelter for the Good Shepherd Alliance.
    In previous articles in Leesburg Today and Loudoun Easterner, it was made
    out to be just a thrift store and a place for administrative offices for
    GSA. Now, according to the article, it will actually serve the daily needs
    of homeless individuals and, in some cases, people who have just been
    released from prison who have nowhere else to go. And, ! according to today's
    article in the Post, we understand there are plans to expand the facility.

    LET ME BE CLEAR: We believe the approval of and true intent of this
    facility has been deliberately kept under the radar so as to push it
    through without communicating the facility's purpose with Ashburn
    residents. We believe the center, our representatives, and Toll Brothers
    has purposefully not engaged in any significant community outreach about
    this facility.

    My wife and I have been residents of Ashburn Village for seven years, but
    four years ago we moved to a single family house on Blue Water Ct. This
    street is right behind the small strip plaza on old Ashburn Rd. with a
    7-Eleven in it. Since that strip mall has been added, we have seen a
    significant increase of foot traffic on our street and vandalism to our
    homes and property. Of most concern is foot traffic from a hidden place
    near the north side of the fence behin! d the p laza, which runs right through
    our neighbor's backyard and into our street's cul-de-sac. This is where our
    children play. People cut through our neighbor's backyard, go into the
    cul-de-sac, and walk down our street. Just a week ago, I witnessed two
    individuals walk onto our street, sit on the curb, and make a phone call.
    After about 30 minutes, a van arrived and picked them up. They obviously
    had to reason to be walking our streets. We fear this will happen to us in
    greater frequency if the new center is opened, putting our children and
    adult residences at risk and reducing our property values.

    Tonight, a petition is circulating expressing extreme displeasure about the
    new center. We have signed that petition as have almost all of our
    neighbors that know about the center, even though many of us just found out
    about it tonight. We are aware that there is an Ashburn Village board
    meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 6pm (at t! he Lake s Recreation Ctr. on
    Cheltenham Circle). I can assure you there will be many of us in attendance
    at that meeting. In addition, I would like an opportunity to speak with you
    about this as well.

    Thank you for your time and consideration.

    Jeff and Sherry L.
     
  2. LvBlands3

    LvBlands3 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2006
    Messages:
    232
    Likes Received:
    2
    Does anyone have a spare minivan or SUV for a homeless family to live in? I guess that would be better than a shelter? Or, just NIMBY?

    Maybe we should listen first before getting the lynch mob fired up.

    God bless you.
     
  3. afgm

    afgm Ashburn Farm Resident

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2002
    Messages:
    2,396
    Likes Received:
    5
    What is wrong with people. Does our community have any compassion for anything other than self-interest? Newsflash: LOUDOUN HAS HOMELESS PEOPLE.

    Jeez, the place is open only during business hours. It's not a shelter, it's offices and support facilities. Good Shepherd Alliance is one of the most important charities we have in Loudoun.
     
  4. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2005
    Messages:
    3,071
    Likes Received:
    2
    Junk architecture OK (Flex Gas Stations etc) can't have homeless tho. ha ha ha ha ha I got it junk architecture bad neighbor developments don't move and move around but homeless people move all over. hmmmmmmm interesting.
    Before someone chimes in the two both are a reflection on some peoples thinking and character, books written on it. :) what people will accept and what they will not!!!!!!

    Lee j
     
  5. GeauxTigers

    GeauxTigers Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2006
    Messages:
    877
    Likes Received:
    10
    Lee, been drinking again? :happygrin:
     
  6. sunnydog

    sunnydog New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2002
    Messages:
    456
    Likes Received:
    0
    From today's leesburg2day.com:
    http://www.leesburg2day.com/articles/2007/10/22/news/fp738gsa102207.txt

    And yes Ashburn, there are homeless people in the woods and in our communities.
    Homelessness continues to rise and people who find themselves in such unfortunate circumstances are blessed to have the limited resources available to them.
    I am totally disgusted in the NIMBYism and the hippocrasy in this area.
    I could rant on and on but I'll stop now.
     
  7. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2005
    Messages:
    3,071
    Likes Received:
    2
    Not yet and rarely :) but tomorrow night at happy hour I think I will need a couple to face this crowd.

    there are many books on architecture and psychology tho , maybe I will bring a few:)

    I could of been homeless myself if it was not for family many years ago. I also have been writing a script for many years about a homeless architect:) So homeless and architecture is not a new subject to me seriously!!!!

    Lee j
     
  8. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

    Joined:
    May 28, 2005
    Messages:
    2,795
    Likes Received:
    9
    If so, bring it on over, my friend. I'm thirsty.
     
  9. Charlotte

    Charlotte New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2007
    Messages:
    219
    Likes Received:
    0
    Until maybe 2005, Good Shepherd operated a shelter for homeless men in a small home where Brambleton is now located. I don't think it served more than a dozen men at a time, but it was an overnight shelter. It doesn't surprise me that Bob Ohneiser has never seen any homeless people in Loudoun County. Like Eugene DelGaudio has never seen any cows.
     
  10. RobVT3

    RobVT3 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2007
    Messages:
    145
    Likes Received:
    1

    IMO the shelter will encourage more homeless people to come to our neighborhoods as Ashburn will then be seen as "homeless friendly". If that's something you would like to see, then by all means support it. Personally I have a hard time feeling compassionate for people who continually make bad decisions and then expect hard working people to feel guilty and take care of them. Of course their are exceptions but for the most part this is the kind of person we'll be attracting.
     
  11. Kaosdad

    Kaosdad Will work for Rum

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2005
    Messages:
    2,557
    Likes Received:
    4
    So, the other day (the days kind of run together as of late) KaosGrrrrl and I are driving from KintuckyFriedTacoHell back to the enclave that is Broadlands. As we pass by LeeGate (the Prison-flex-building across from him) we see a guy lounging on the hill side. He has a scraggly white beard, unkempt white heair, busted jeans, torn shirt & one shoe. Just one. So I looks at KaosGirrrl and say "We has a bum!!!!"



    Kool! Now alls we needs is a village idiot.

    Seriously (we did see the homeless guy) the fact of the matter is that we live in really rediculous times. Any one of us through a Series of Unfortunate Events could become homeless. You have six months' salary locked away - yes? If your expertise is so specialized - will that last you? How far are YOU from loosing it all? Probably MUCH closer than you would like to think!!!!!

    C'mon folks..... open your heart, open your soul, and understand that "But for the grace of God/Allah/Jaweh/Buddah/Vishnu, there go I" is NOT just a prayer - in this day & age it's a reality.

    Drop the pretense, open your WALLET and help a brutha or sistah out.
     
  12. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2006
    Messages:
    2,512
    Likes Received:
    19
    Folks, don't say that the issue has been "hidden" from the community. In June the Loudoun Times Mirror (and probably the other free local papers since they all report the same thing) published an article and it clearly states that a day center will be operated at the location. You've had plenty of notice should you need it.

    Excerpt:

    Counseling services, a kids' room, chapel, conference room and enlarged day center will also be housed in the Center of Hope.
    The day center is where homeless individuals can come to shower, do laundry, use the Internet, check their mail, prepare meals, use the phone and store belongings, Werner said.
    She said that the current day center in Leesburg includes these things, but on a much smaller scale.
    The new facility will include four bathrooms, allowing up to four people to shower at once.


    And yet another article from June in "The Connection" local newspaper. Wake up, people.
     
  13. CdnJess

    CdnJess New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2006
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thank you, LvBlands3. Listening first would be good, and I invite all in both the YEA and NAY camps to come to the board meeting to LISTEN. Hear what the plans are by the Good Shepherds Alliance, decide FAIRLY if their operations will co-exist peacefully with you and your neighbors' way of life.

    As a nod to those who have experienced, or know of those who have been in, the most dire of straits, there are those in need of services and assistance of which there is certainly not enough. And yes, homelessness is everywhere and sometimes not obvious.

    Many in need are not out to simply take advantage and coast along on the offerings of kindness, but are struggling hard to start over. Helping these kinds of people, I don't mind. I welcome them and would be happy to encourage them. But...you cannot choose who receives help and who does not. I don't expect groups like Good Shepherd to choose...nor should they.

    AFGM states that the place is only open during office hours. Yes, it is. But NEED is not 9-5.

    So...you label me with NIMBY (not in my backyard)? Self-interested? Perhaps. But there are mothers walking their children on these trails and streets when most of you are not home. They play in the parks that perhaps most of you don't visit. Like anyone, I worry about my family's and my neighbors' safety. So I want to find out for myself what the full plan is for this place before passing judgment.

    So...those of you fanning the flames just to provoke and heat up a discussion -- cut it out. This is a serious topic deserving rational discussion. If you have concerns or wish to show support for this, then you should go to this board meeting and decide FOR YOURSELF if this fits with you.
     
  14. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2006
    Messages:
    2,512
    Likes Received:
    19
    The place has a chain link fence around it so it isn't as if homeless people will be wandering around all the time. I imagine there could be some homeless people hanging around nearby because they have nowhere to spend the night until when the center opens the next day. Based on the location, fence, and geography, anyone just hanging out is likely to do it in the shopping center area and not in the neighborhood. But I'm not expert. If I see someone hanging out there I'll give 'em a sandwich or something.

    Frankly, I was thinking about volunteering there to teach office skills so they can improve their lives. But, hey, that's just me.

    "Give a man a fish" and all that. Even if said man is within 5 miles of me.
     
  15. merky1

    merky1 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2005
    Messages:
    303
    Likes Received:
    8
    Does anyone have a link as to why they are looking to place a facility in ashburn? it just seems that they are looking to pull at the heartstrings in the community, and not really providing a needed service where it is needed. Kinda like those camera crews that go to 3rd world countries and ask for money for food (they kinda skip the whole hungry in America thing...)

    Yes I know that there are homeless, but I would imagine that most of Ashburn / Broadlands would be very unattractive to a homeless person. Horrible public transportation, limited pan handling opportunities, and the HOA probably wouldn't approve of a cardboard shack (or tent).

    Personally, I won't contribute to any of these, but that is just me.
     
  16. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2005
    Messages:
    3,071
    Likes Received:
    2
    Eventually what everyone came for here some of that will change. Homeless are everywhere. This shelter will be built and there will be no changing that. They will try to get them jobs here, many in warehouse (flex)type jobs and other jobs that are not far from the shelter as many don't have cars. They will try to find them permanent housing here and again close to where they will work. Yes prisoners are part of this integrating them back into society. Yes they will try to find them jobs close by and yes this huge amount of industrial and flex warehouse we have are perfect places for them to work. Working in stores many a time is out of the question because there is money around and customers. The reason I know this is because I have a relative that has been in and out of trouble and they he was always placed in a warehouse type job. Didn't take much skills and he could be watched and there was not much to steal easily and it was easy to get him back and forth. Personally these people need help and more power to the organizations that help them. Personally I think I may look into ways of building some kind of permanent housing for them near the shelter and I am serious which would help them to be more self sufficient. Kind of like habitat for the more troubled. I will even offer my services free to design such a project. There is plenty of work close by here all they need is the permanent housing.

    I will be at that my meeting to offer my services or do it even before to get the ball rolling and I think we all should.

    Lee j
     
  17. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2002
    Messages:
    5,281
    Likes Received:
    344
    CdnJess-
    I can see why there might be some concern. It would be good to have a meeting to find out all the details of this facility. Two comments:
    1) I don't know that an HOA Board meeting is the place to find out this information. If I were to guess, it will be angry residents, with little factual information, yelling at a Board that has little information themselves.
    2) Some of the comments in your original post were rather harsh, so don't fault those here who respond to it.

    We went through all this here with the hospital proposal in Broadlands. It was assumed that convicted pedophiles, rapists, and all sorts of seedy characters would be roaming the streets of Broadlands because of the hospital.
     
  18. joy

    joy New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2002
    Messages:
    516
    Likes Received:
    2
    FWIW, Delegate Poisson has told me before that I'd be surprised how many homeless people live in the wooded areas of our community.
     
  19. merky1

    merky1 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2005
    Messages:
    303
    Likes Received:
    8
    Yeah, surfing The Washington Post seems to list 119 homeless in Loudoun county. I wonder if they break those down to which ones are illegal immigrants abused by the construction industry and left to their own.
     
  20. LvBlands3

    LvBlands3 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2006
    Messages:
    232
    Likes Received:
    2
    CdnJess,

    I was not fanning the flames. I was deeply saddened by your initial post. Maybe a few jabs at you, but honestly, I know that there are a lot of people who need help. Where is the compassion? My church is one of many who will be connected to this new facility. I am planning on volunteering there in some way with what little spare time I have.

    A meal and a shower - think about it. How basic a need is that - to anyone. Try going to work without a shower one day. How long will your employer want to keep you?
     

Share This Page