There were more questions at the most recent Danbury City Council meeting about a proposed bid for permanent supportive housing on Elm Street.

Council Minority Leader Paul Rotello says he is on board with supportive housing, but state his constituents in the 6th Ward, particularly the Spring Street area, have reached a point where they feel the City is not responding to their concerns.  The Dorothy Day shelter is located on Spring Street.  The City of Danbury is currently in court with the soup kitchen because they've lacked a valid permit to operate for more than 30 years.

While transitional housing has a time limit, permanent supportive housing does not have a limit for how long someone can live there.  This proposal is not emergency sheltering services, but does include up to 6 shelter beds.  Councilman Ben Chianese expressed a concern with density.  Health Director Lisa Morrissey says a single family home on the property could be demolished to make room for parking.  No word on when a bid winner will be announced.

Chianese noted that another bidder could put 20 shelter beds in there, because it would be permittable as a special exception in that zone.  He called the Department of Health's proposal for supportive housing the lesser of two evils.