Public Hearing on Opening of Homeless Shelter in Seymour

(SEYMOUR) – A Seymour businessman has applied for a land-use variance for a homeless shelter in Seymour.

Andy Royalty, the owner of Royalty Roofing, filed an application with the city’s planning and zoning department to use the 5,000 square-foot building at 326 Dupont Drive near the Jackson County Learning Center for a homeless shelter.

The Plan Commission will conduct a public hearing on the matter at 5 p.m. Monday. The meeting will be in the council chamber of City Hall.

The shelter will be called Jackson County Toolbox. The idea is to give those seeking help the tools to succeed in life.

Officials hope to have the shelter open before November.

The plan is to double the size of the building and add a training and education center and manufacturing workshop to help sustain the shelter.

The shelter will be made into apartments and could house around 50 men and women in separate areas of the shelter.

The group says it will cost around $1 million to build the shelter and between $500,000 to $600,000 to operate a year.

Organizers will include creating an endowment fund with the Community Foundation of Jackson County for long-term operational costs and raising the money for construction through fund-raising events.

About a dozen local churches have agreed to assist in the building and operation of the shelter.

Information Seymour Tribune, http://www.tribtown.com