Keeping both locations open could possibly be an answer?

If both shelter locations remained open, it could alleviate some of the issues the Kearney Center has faced over the past months. 

Since relocating, Monique Ellsworth, community relations coordinator, said the shelter has served 2,800 homeless people so far.

"The Shelter outgrew its population at the Tennessee Street's location and moved to the Kearney Center," according to the Tallahassee Democrat. "Community officials wanted to take a closer look at how Tallahassee dealt with homelessness and closed the Tennessee Street shelter earlier this year," according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Patrick Denson, a local community activist, said both Shelters' should have remained open. 

"I believe they shouldn't have moved the Shelter by the Jailhouse," Denson said. He continued, "The ones that may need to be at the Shelter may not come now due to it being so close to the Jailhouse. It is way too many people in Tallahassee for only one homeless shelter. Besides, most of the homeless people were from the community where the old one was located and it was easier to get there," Denson added.

During this time of year, no one should be left to live outside in the cold under these weather conditions.

Chris Brown, a Frenchtown resident, said he knows a few of the homeless residents are in his neighborhood still. "Oftentimes, I see some of the guys at Convenience stores and barbershops cleaning up and taking out trash,” Brown said. “That shelter was unsanitary and it’s sad to have people working there and aren’t doing anything," he said. Brown continued, "FSU is buying up Tennessee Street and the reason the Shelter isn’t over here anymore. Over there, those people do not care about the homeless because some of them don’t have those jobs they were accustomed to over here."

While taking a stroll down Tennessee Street, several homeless people are still sticking around in hopes that the Shelter will reopen some even sleeping on bus stop bench locations. However, Ellsworth said the old Shelter has been sold and will be plowed soon.

One homeless man said he preferred not to be identified. "Someone needs to write about this place [the Kearney Center]," he said.

The Tennessee Shelter's location has been on Tennessee Street nearly 30 years and all of a sudden community officials decide to move it. When community officials make decisions, they should stop and think about whom these decisions are impacting and the results followed by the decision.

If the old location can't be reopened, another shelter should be in Tallahassee period. It's a growing population homelessness and something needs to be done. 

The Tallahassee community needs to go to the community meetings to help get funding for the Shelter. Let's move Tallahassee!