Brookhaven Borough Council has decided that the Saint Joseph’s Family Hope Center doesn’t have to move, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

The Center is one of only two family homeless shelters in Delaware County and faced eviction Oct. 31 after the borough acquired the property where the shelter is located.

The borough has since amended its sale agreement with Our Lady of Charity Parish and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to keep the shelter open.

“We’re pleased to keep the women and children in need sheltered for the foreseeable future,” Council President Terry Heller said.

Brookhaven opted to purchase the former convent and seven acres of green space in March following a voter referendum.

The borough informed the shelter it could stay as a tenant in the old convent building until borough solicitor Jay Willis legally concluded the borough could not be a landlord for the homeless shelter.

Elected leaders initially followed his advice but have since come to their own legal conclusion in the matter.

“There was an interpretation of the law that shows that a borough may lease to an organization that operates a shelter — such as Saint Joseph’s Family Hope Center,” Heller said.

Read more about Brookhaven’s decision to buy the property at WHYY.