LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After the sudden closure of an emergency shelter at a Louisville food hall, two Metro Council members stepped in to get an alternative site opened with more winter weather headed to the area.
Since Sunday, The StrEatery Food Hall on West Woodlawn Avenue in the Beechmont neighborhood had been open as a warm refuge for those in need, providing shelter, hot meals, drinks, socks, hats and gloves as cold air gripped the area. It also served as an overnight shelter for those in need.
But that help was put on hold. Thursday, the Louisville Fire Department issued The StrEatery a violation to "discontinue use as an overnight emergency shelter until additional permits/approvals can be obtained from Codes & Regulations," Donovan Sims, Louisville Fire Captain, said in a news release.
The building is "an A-2 Assembly use group," Sims said, and in order to operate as a temporary shelter, a change of occupancy permit is needed through Metro Codes & Regulations.
Friday, Councilmembers Betsy Ruhe, D-12, and Jennifer Chappell, D-15, partnered with the director of Codes & Regulations to get an alternative site up.
Sojourn Church Carlisle agreed to serve as a replacement shelter. It's located at the corner of Carlisle Avenue and Taylor Boulevard, less than two miles away from The StrEatery.
Ruhe and Chappell said in a news release that the church had obtained a 30-day permit to serve as an overnight emergency shelter.
It will take in guests from 6-9 p.m. each night, as long as the weather conditions are severe. Guests are welcome to stay until 9 a.m. each morning and return at 6 p.m.
Ruhe plans to work with fellow councilmembers to draft regulations that would allow establishments to operate as short-term shelters during future weather emergencies.
"I'm deeply grateful to Dung Tran, owner of The StrEatery, for stepping up to keep our unhoused neighbors safe and warm during the winter storm," Ruhe said in a statement.
Southend Street Angels partnered with The StrEatery to get donations and volunteers to help with the pop-up shelter. Amanda Mills, Southend Street Angels founder, said Thursday that the Health Department had already come earlier in the week and gave them the all clear.
Sims explained why the business was cited by the fire department after the health department gave the all-clear.
"Health regulations are focused primarily on food safety & sanitation," Sims said in a written statement. "Fire and building codes establish minimum fire and life safety standards for construction and occupancy of buildings with an emphasis on safeguarding occupants."
As for what the owners could have done differently to avoid the issue, Sims said a proposal needs to be submitted to Metro Codes and Regulations to "conduct a thorough plan review and evaluation, required to ensure the building has proper features, construction, and safeguards for its intended use."
Some of those safeguards include a fire alarm system, smoke alarms, fire sprinklers, modifications to emergency exits, etc., and enough time needs to be allowed for a thorough review and approval.
In a statement on social media Thursday night, The StrEatery said: "As you all know by now, The StrEatery’s Pop-up shelter has been shut down, we were heart broken to break the news to all that has trusted us on keeping them safe. We fed a lot of people and hosted a dozen people with a warm place and bed to sleep through the night. Our doors were open 24 hours and we would get people in the middle of the night seeking shelter. We all cried here knowing some decided to go back on the street bc they lost trust in the system. We learned a lot and heard a lot stories with the time that we here, we saw what the community could do when we all unite and put people first. I’m proud to apart of it and I’m sorry that we let everyone down. We will learn and do better, we will be ready to do it again and do it right, so no one who wants the help will be denied the help. We love everyone and we will pray for everyone tonight."
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