HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment from Stephens in Support1
Ziino, Genevey
From:Antonia Stephens <astephens@clamsnet.org>
Sent:Wednesday, June 10, 2026 8:05 AM
To:Ziino, Genevey
Cc:Ravi Lesser; Christina Wiseman; Amanda Converse; Milvia Nogueira
Subject:A letter in regard to the new shelter proposed for West Hyannis
Dear ZBA Members,
I have managed the Hyannis Public Library as its Director for almost six years, and in that time, I
have had many direct interactions with the individuals experiencing homelessness who spend time
in downtown Hyannis. The Library is open to everyone, and there are many services that we offer
that do not require a library card to access. Some of these individuals use the shelters and others
do not. Some individuals have been around for years, others come and go.
There are people from every demographic in our space, including the unhoused, seniors, small
children, families and others, and they use our services together to work, play, read, rest,
recharge their devices, stay warm, stay cool, check email, copy documents like ID cards, print out
government forms, attend programs and grab a meal from our community food access fridge. All
these activities are supervised by librarians, none of whom are trained security personnel, social
workers or police officers.
Occasionally someone has a crisis and we have to intervene. That crisis could be a child having a
tantrum and screaming. It could be an angry patron who verbally abuses staff members over a
display of Pride Month titles or perceived immigration status. It could be a dysregulated member
from a visiting group of adults with cognitive disabilities who lashes out at others. Or it could be
someone who is experiencing a mental health episode exacerbated by a narcotic. All of these
things happen in our space, and the librarians handle them either by themselves or, if someone
may be a danger to themselves or to others, with the help of our first responders. Every "type" of
person in our space can, and does, create an uncomfortable emergency, regardless of their housing
status.
What we do not experience is an ongoing problem with people who use the shelters located in
downtown Hyannis. As one of the few places where people can spend time without having to spend
money or be a member, we host unhoused people all year round, everyday. We work with the
shelter to provide programs specifically for individuals who want to learn new skills, and it has
been a productive and positive experience for everyone. We know many of them by name and hear
about their lives and help them with various services they need as they navigate providing
documentation for medical and other appointments. Other folks who spend their day with us do not
use the shelter and mostly rest and recharge their devices and get out of the cold or the heat. We
may see them over and over, or they pass through.
If a group of (mostly) middle-aged and older librarians, most of whom are women, can run an
organization that sees diverse groups of people, many of whom are children, sharing a space
together in a location surrounded by schools, shelters, tourists, restaurants trying to attract
customers and a museum and a candy store, I have the utmost faith that the folks in West Hyannis
will be able to navigate having a (much improved!) shelter facility in their neighborhood.
Communicating concerns so that they can be addressed in advance instead of in reaction to an
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incident, understanding the evidence and remembering that people who stay in shelters are human
beings--mothers, fathers, daughters and sons--who are trying to survive in the world like everyone
else should be the path forward. Turn your threat into an opportunity to create a welcoming and
safe community.
The Hyannis Public Library is open to collaborating with all parties to create services and programs
for the new shelter, just as we do now. You are all our constituents, and we are here for you.
Sincerely,
Antonia Stephens
--
Antonia Stephens
Director
Hyannis Public Library
508-775-2280
astephens@clamsnet.org