BOISE, Idaho — Boise Mayor Lauren McLean asked Interfaith Sanctuary to "pause" their application for the proposed move Thursday.
McLean announced the request and Interfaith Sanctuary agreed to the pause the application.
Mayor McLean shares an update on the proposed Interfaith Sanctuary location. https://t.co/1VuBY3AnT6
— City of Boise (@CityOfBoise) June 10, 2021
McLean said she and the City of Boise have committed to establishing a task force regarding the move. For eight weeks, that task force will focus on "reviewing best practices with regard to shelter, reviewing land that's available and the plan proposed by Interfaith," McLean said.
"I want to be clear [Interfaith Sanctuary] could well be on State Street," McLean said in the announcement.
The announcement was welcomed by some area neighbors, who expressed concern with the size and adding a shelter to an area of town they say is already struggling with poverty.
"I think this is definitely a good idea to step back and do a more formal matrix, sort of a grading rubric to apply to potential sites," said Katy Decker with the Veterans Neighborhood Parkway Association. "I'm hopeful that there will be representation from neighborhood boards on the task force. I would certainly hope that our neighborhood is represented, but I would encourage other neighborhood associations to join as well since this should be a city wide look."
Further details regarding the move, the task force and the location will be released "soon," according to the announcement.
