The Springfield City Council has rejected a zoning change that would have allowed the Helping Hands homeless shelter to relocate.
The shelter had shared space with Contact Ministries on South 11th Street, but Contact Ministries plans to expand, forcing the shelter to move.
It had wanted to move a couple of blocks away… but Ward 2 Alderman Gail Simpson and nearby residents say enough is enough.
They want other parts of the city to take on some of the burden of assisting the homeless population.
The rezoning failed on a 7-3 vote… Helping Hands says it may have to close its shelter if it can’t find a suitable location soon.
