Welders contracted by Valley Health work along the ceiling of the City of HuntingtonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s new low barrier shelter on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Huntington.
Welders contracted by Valley Health work along the ceiling of the City of HuntingtonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s new low barrier shelter on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” The Huntington Board of Zoning Appeals voted Tuesday afternoon to approve the conditional use of a shelter/mission at 96 3rd Ave. W. for the Huntington Homeless Services Hub.
The boardÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s approval gives the city and lead partner Valley Health Systems the green light to utilize the property as the cityÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s new low-barrier shelter for people experiencing homelessness. A shelter/mission was not permitted in its former zoning district, I-2 Heavy Industrial. The operation of a shelter/mission is conditionally permitted in an I-1 Light Industrial/Commercial District.
The Huntington City Council voted to amend the zoning ordinance Monday to change the zoning.
The Hub will provide basic needs such as shelter, providing clients with a clean place to take a shower, get a hot meal and a safe place to sleep overnight and later incorporate wraparound services such as medical and mental health services, addiction treatment, housing support and case management, Jan Rader, senior advisor to the mayor, said Tuesday.
The boardÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s biggest concerns were transportation and safety. Rader said some of the shelterÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s clients will get there on foot. Rader also added that she runs a grant for the city that provides bus passes to partners such as Valley Health, Harmony House and the Cabell-Huntington Health Department. The city is also in talks with the Tri-State Transit Authority (TTA) for possible collaboration, she said.
For safety, Rader said a lot of the safety concerns people have, such as light vandalism, or breaking into and sleeping in cars, happen because peopleÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s basic needs are not being met. The hub will provide them with those basic needs, which should decrease that activity, Rader said.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThis facility will provide them with basic needs, so they wonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t need to go out and try to survive,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Rader said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe know that we have homeless in that area anyway. They are on the riverbank and things. We want to reach them. We want to connect them with the services that they need to lift them up out of the situation that they are in. We want to give them the best opportunity to thrive.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The facility is fenced in the back, and staff will supervise activity on the property, said Brett Wellman, chief community health officer of Valley Health. The facility will also have security cameras and secured doors for entry, he said. Staff will go through safety training.
The Huntington Homeless Services Hub is currently being renovated and is expected to be open before winter.
