The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School committee voted in favor of allowing Harbor Homes to operate its winter homeless shelter for another season in the former pre-school building at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services.

The Harbor Homes winter shelter in Oak Bluffs closed for the season Saturday morning, after experiencing its busiest year ever.

Just one month into its season, the winter shelter has hit capacity three times already, the first time in its history space has been such a concern.

Harbor Homes executive director Kristin Leutz announced Sunday that the nonprofit is withdrawing its application because the zoning board of appeals referred the project to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission for review.

At a zoning board of appeals meeting Wednesday, several residents voiced their opposition to the nonprofit’s plan to open a shelter at 21 Hudson avenue.

Harbor Homes of Martha’s Vineyard, which operates the winter shelter and two transitional group homes on the Island, is planning to buy a six-bedroom dormitory on Hudson avenue with the potential of opening the property in November.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude to our Island community who so generously supported the Give Me Shelter Art Show on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Forty artists will be represented at the Give Me Shelter art sale, which raises money for housing and shelter for low income and homeless people on the Vineyard.

The Harbor Homes winter homeless shelter will reopen Nov. 1 on the campus of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, where the shelter has operated for the past two winters.

Thanks to a grant of over $2.5 million spread out over 10 years, Harbor Homes of Martha’s Vineyard is in the market for a permanent emergency shelter to better serve the Island’s homeless population.