The former location of Ken Anderson Films in Warsaw is being proposed for a homeless shelter in Warsaw. The matter goes before the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals tonight. (Photo by Alyssa Richardson)

The Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals is expected to vote on a proposal tonight that would establish a homeless shelter in the city.

Fellowship Missions, which has operated separated women’s and men’s facilities in Warsaw since 2010, is hoping to get approval from the city BZA to combine one shelter under one roof. (See related story)

Fellowship Missions Founder Eric Lane already has a donor who agreed to purchase the former Ken Anderson Films building at 1520 E. Winona Ave., for the purpose of establishing the shelter. The 8,500-square-foot building would be perfectly suited for the needs said Lane, noting, “… it’s a good location and in close proximity to other resources for our clients.”

Fellowship Missions has rented two separate homes in Warsaw for nearly three years providing a service to the community’s members who have fallen on hard times. 

In the past, Fellowship Missions has tried to establish a shelter closer to downtown Warsaw. Two other locations, however, were reviewed and ultimately fell through due to different reasons.

The Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals will meet at 7 p.m. tonight in the city hall meeting room. They are expected to vote on a variance for Fellowship Missions to use the commercially zoned property as a homeless shelter.

If approved tonight, Lane hopes to have the facility in Fellowship Mission’s possession by the first of June and be ready to utilize it as a home shelter by November.