Editor:

The Farmville Area Rescue Mission (FARM) continues to receive phone calls for shelter from people who are homeless.

The FARM has operated in local churches for seven years. We have always been a temporary, overnight, emergency shelter. That means we shelter folks only overnight. One night, and overnight only. The shelter operates from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.

The Farmville Herald reported that the working of a proposed zoning amendment would most likely be in regard to a “Transitional Housing Unit.”

This implies a period of time for someone to “transition” from being homeless into a more stable housing situation. This information may have caused a conflict in some people’s minds.

Having spoken with Rob Fowler, planning and zoning administrator, we have been assured that our “temporary, overnight, emergency shelter” would be the kind of shelter that would be permitted if such wording as “transitional housing unit” was adopted as a zoning amendment.

This does not imply that a zoning amendment will come about or that the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors will accept such an amendment even if proposed.

We deeply appreciate prayers for our efforts to restore service to our community.

Anyone interested in supporting the FARM Shelter can send a letter of support to P.O. Box 213, Farmville, VA 23901.

Debora Warner

Farmville