Lower Providence Nixes Homeless Proposal At Eagleville Hospital

LOWER PROVIDENCE, PA — The controversial proposal that would have brought transitional, temporary housing for the homeless to the Eagleville Hospital property has been nixed by township officials.

However, the Lower Providence Board of Supervisors did describe their decision as a "suspending" of consideration, leaving open the possibility that they would consider it again int he future.

Related: 'Not A Homeless Shelter': Nonprofit Pushes Back On Smear Of Eagleville Hospital Proposal

"The Board has outstanding questions and concerns that have not been answered to their satisfaction," the township said in a statement. "At this time there are no plans to list the text amendment on a future agenda. If the Board decides to reconsider the text amendment at a future time, notice will be provided a minimum of 30 days in advance."

It's not clear exactly which concerns the Philadelphia-based nonprofit behind the project, Resources for Human Development (RHD), did not address.

The decision comes after weeks of escalating pushback from certain local groups that had variously described the proposal as a "migrant complex" and "homeless shelter," labels which RHD said were patently false smears.

"Lower Providence Supervisors have succumbed to the fear-mongering regarding Genny's Place," Mike Hays , the co-director of the Montco 30% Project, shared. "At a time when Montgomery County is experiencing record housing insecurity, it is beyond frustrating, saddening, and disappointing to hear that the Lower Providence board of supervisors has pulled this application for supportive housing. It is my hope that the next application in a community nearby will be met with support and the political courage to approve it."

The meeting previously scheduled for May 2 to address the issue has been canceled.

The proposal called for the construction of a new building on Eagleville Hospital's grounds that would house a maximum of 60 residents for a period of 60 to 90 days.