Davie residents protest proposal for homeless shelter

``I don't think western Davie is the appropriate place for a homeless shelter,'' said Debbie Apolinario, one of several area residents who are writing letters in protest. ``My kids roam the streets freely and I don't have to worry. I don't want my kids outside playing if there is a homeless shelter down the street.''

The site, owned by Fred M. Carr, will be evaluated May 21 by a committee of the Homeless Initiative Partnership -- an advisory board to the County Commission -- which will recommend a site to the commission later this month. The committee also will evaluate three other proposals from private land owners.

Roberto Hernandez, assistant to the director in the Broward County Human Services Department, said it is unlikely that the committee will choose the Davie site because of its remote location at the corner of Southwest 136th Avenue and 37th Court. But the site cannot be ruled out, he said.

``This is the same piece of land that was up for consideration last year and it didn't even make the top five,'' Hernandez said. ``Last year, the sitting committee decided it was too far out west and too removed from the homeless population.''

Last week, the county received three proposals for shelter sites, in addition to the Davie location: