FEBRUARY 1, 2026

So it's been a bit of a week as we dig deeper into some of the concerns in our community. Despite some sad realities, we love our community for many reasons. We loved our house, and though the rebuilding will never be exactly what it was, knowing we'll likely have windows that keep the cold out will be pretty amazing. We may even save on not having to cover them with plastic once we move back in!

We've started to request several RIGHT TO KNOW forms.

1) RTK the fire report on our home and the church

*We've been denied this because the report is not yet completed. I've been told these reports can take a while, so we will circle back in a few weeks.

FACT: Those of us who witnessed the fire from beginning to end know what happened, but we will await the official report.

2) RTK - Request for the report on the two people arrested on King Street the morning of the fire.

*Witnesses came to us the day of and several days after the fire, claiming that they witnessed two people being arrested on King St during the fire - that report is unknown to the police. Not sure where to go with this. I don't want to believe we are being lied to, but it seems odd that, on different occasions and unsolicited by us, we were told about two people being arrested.

This will likely end here, or at least be put on the back burner until we have more information. One thing we learned even before the fire is that neighborhoods are not like they used to be here in Pottstown. People are willing to talk unless you ask them to discuss the subject publicly. Or even more often, people are NOT willing to talk at all, a sad reality in today's society.

We are meeting with people who have experience addressing the concerns we have in town to educate ourselves and learn how we can better create permanent solutions, not band-aids. Which brings us to these questions, and perhaps some of you can help us get answers...

1) Since Beacon of Hope is looking to hire a CEO, what percentage of the grants they receive are going into payroll? I'm asking because we know from personal experience that some organizations in town pay their directors more than what goes to benefit the cause they are working for - and not just here in Pottstown, but this is definitely a question we should have answers to. From what we've read, there have been 2.6 million given in grants to BOH for the new shelter, and recently an additional 1.5 million in a (loan or grant? The article referred to it as both a grant and a loan. Loans someone has to pay back. Grants are free money (funded by our taxes but free to the recipient). The clarification would be appreciated.

*Without accusing anyone, there are several nonprofits in the community (and elsewhere) that do not need to share their budgets, or they just don't, and no one asks. So I'm asking, not accusing, but if you know where we can reach this information, please share.

2) If the new shelter is planning 45 beds and the "homeless Hotel" affords 120+ beds, wouldn't it be smart to already have a plan for the displaced 75? How are the 45 people being chosen? Which leads me to some parts we need to educate ourselves on.

A) According to previous public information, the hotel will slowly be shut down, which, if you add the numbers right, will leave many back out on the streets, which is why we are asking.

B) Wouldn't it make more sense to have a plan in place well before the building of the new shelter is started, and be very transparent to the community in which these homeless may have a direct effect on?

C) If there is a plan, please let the community around you know what the plan is. In my opinion, this would not be the first time our Borough Council jumped in the pool before learning how to swim.

*FACT: The business district has been sheltered from even the simplest things that affect them, road closures, events, and more. So, I am pretty sure the businesses near the homeless hotel were completely unaware of that happening until it was already in place - though we will be confirming this tidbit too once we are able to reach out to those businesses.

*FACT: The businesses, both in the downtown and surrounding the homeless hotel are NOT at all happy with the environment surrounding their businesses currently. What do we do to implement change? THE SOLUTION IS NOT TO GIVE THEM A BUS TICKET TO ANOTHER TOWN!

*FACT: Pottstown should not be shouldering the masses, but rather, the rest of this county SHOULD be sharing in this problem. If fewer people were experiencing homelessness in each town in the county, more funding could be allocated to provide REAL help for these issues.

We hope you will consider this information. If you have experienced any of this, please help educate us and the rest of the community. If we turn our heads from these core issues, solutions will not be found. If we continue to believe Pottstown is OK, NOT broken, we will n ever reach the answers to a better community.

Please feel free to share your experience and knowledge on any of this, it will only make things become better for all of us.

Sheila & Gene