Before the Hillsborough Planning Board allows homeless shelters inside town limits, town officials want to tour other shelters to understand their inner workings.
Members of the board did just that Tuesday night with the help of Inter-Faith Council Executive Director Chris Moran, who gave the group a tour of the IFC’s community kitchen and men’s shelter at 100 W. Rosemary St.
“It’s difficult to make a decision on anything when you don’t have a point of reference,” said board Chairman Paul Newton.
“I think that’s the predicament we found ourselves in.”
In February, the planning board delayed adoption of the amendment to Hillsborough’s zoning ordinance that would allow shelters within town limits.
Moran said he thinks his role in getting a homeless shelter started in Hillsborough is to point the board in the right direction. “Every shelter program that I’ve ever visited has operated differently,” he said.
Town Planning Director Margaret Hauth said she was impressed by the way the IFC shelter runs and the services it provides.
“I got an idea of what all the things are that go on inside a shelter and understand now that they’re all very different,” she said.
“This gives these folks an alternative when a lot of times their only other alternative is under the nearest pine tree.”
