LEBANON — The city is holding a community meeting on Monday to discuss plans to establish an emergency shelter for unhoused people at a former commercial property that the city acquired this week.

On Thursday, the city finalized the purchase of 160 Mechanic St., a single-level building on a quarter-acre parcel of land at the intersection with Slayton Hill Road.

The city hopes to convert the property into a seasonal homeless shelter, which would operate during the months of December through March and house up to 15 people.

“In winter, people need a safe place to rest as well as a safe place to stay warm,” said Sophia Gawel, service coordinator for Listen Community Services.

Lebanon is one of the largest municipalities in New Hampshire without a homeless shelter, according to a recent city report.

The closest shelters are the Upper Valley Haven in White River Junction and the Sullivan County shelter in Claremont, which often do not have available beds.

A count conducted last month by Lebanon’s regional Housing First committee and volunteers found 50 people who lacked a permanent home. Of those people, 41 were unsheltered, camping or living in vehicles, while 33 of them were living in New Hampshire.

Gawel said the 50 people identified were “just the tip of the iceberg” in regard to the Upper Valley’s actual homeless numbers. For example, the count could not determine the size of the population of people who who were “couch surfing,” or living temporarily in other people’s homes.

Living out of tents or cars poses challenges just to find a safe or legal place to camp overnight, Gawel said. When winter arrives, living this way becomes a “life or death” situation.

The City Council approved the appropriation of $425,000 in July to complete the sale and to conduct an environmental assessment of the Mechanic Street property.

However, a shelter at the location would only be short-term solution. The city’s long-term plan is to clear the property to allow for the construction of a roundabout project at the intersection of Mechanic Street and Slayton Hill Road. This project, which will be partially funded by the state, is tentatively scheduled to begin construction in 2029.

The intent of Monday’s community meeting is to allow property abutters, as well as city residents, to share their questions or concerns about the project and to learn about the city’s plan, Lebanon Human Services Director Lynne Goodwin said in a phone interview.

Goodwin noted that the property abuts the Mascoma River Greenway, a 2.3-mile multipurpose path that runs parallel to Route 4 and provides safe pedestrian access to stores and other businesses along the corridor.

In addition, the proposed site is home to an Advance Transit bus stop.

Tracy Pelletier, who lives in the closest residential home to the proposed shelter site, said he is interested in learning more about the project.

“I really don’t know enough right now to have an opinion about it,” Pelletier said.

If the project moves forward, the shelter would operate for only about five seasons because the building will need to be razed to construct the roundabout. During that time, city staff intend to study whether a permanent shelter will be necessary in the future, Goodwin said.

The Upper Valley Haven is currently considering whether to acquire the former “25,000 Gifts” building in White River Junction to build a low-barrier shelter. Lebanon City Manager Shaun Mulholland said in July that the city would help fund that shelter’s operation if the Haven proceeds with the plan.

Michael Redmond, the Haven’s executive director, said in July that the project is still in an early development phase.

If the Haven proceeds, Redmond said a plan may be submitted for consideration by Hartford planning and zoning boards “later this year.”

Goodwin said Lebanon would determine from that shelter’s utilization whether an additional shelter would be necessary.

“If that shelter winds up being full most of the time, we will have our answer,” Goodwin said.

Gawel noted that providing a shelter temporarily is better than having none.

“A shelter for one night is still one night of safety,” Gawel said. “A shelter for a season is one season of safety.”

Gawel also hopes that seeing the seasonal shelter in operation might help ease residents’ reservations about a permanent facility.

“Having a shelter filled all winter and seeing the care and safety that it brings may help residents in the area and the broader community see how needed and useful having a shelter is for a community.”

The community discussion will take place Monday, Sept. 11, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at River Valley Community College, at 15 Hanover St.

Later this month, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall to consider the proposal.

Patrick Adrian may be reached at padrian@vnews.com or at 603-727-3216.

CORRECTION: A count in August  of homeless individuals in Lebanon included people who were living temporarily in other people's homes, though the total number of this population could not be determined. A previous version of this story was unclear on whether people in this category were included in the count. A public hearing on the project scheduled for Sept. 25 will be held by the Lebanon Planning Board. A previous version of this story named an incorrect governing body.