POCATELLO — Highland High School senior Eddie Schwarze is convinced that misinformation is largely to blame for opposition against a supportive housing facility planned for the 1200 block of Pershing Avenue.

For his Eagle Scout project, Schwarze said he sought to set the record straight Tuesday night about the planned Big Momma’s House facility.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on whether or not to approve a zoning change to accommodate the controversial “home of hope” on Thursday night.

Schwarze led a large group of friends, fellow Boy Scouts and members of his ward with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in canvassing the neighborhood in which it’s planned, hanging informational flyers on about 1,000 surrounding doorknobs.

“It’s been my experience the more I’ve learned about this project and interacted with Big Momma (Pastor Jacqualine Thomas), the more I’ve supported it,” Schwarze said. “I think this will really help open people’s minds.”

Schwarze said the literature is not intended to be persuasive but simply offers facts about the plan. When presented with such facts — that the facility would offer “safe and supportive housing” to help people transition out of homelessness, would utilize background checks to prevent sex offenders from checking in and would offer safeguards to make certain residents don’t use drugs — Schwarze has found the project’s skeptics are quickly won over.

Big Momma’s House would include two new buildings housing at least 24 combined apartments.

Mitch Fisher, who lives close to the proposed location and has organized opponents, said he sees value in receiving factual literature, given that plans have changed many times. But Fisher said the neighborhood would oppose the addition of any group housing facility, based on the current zoning.

“We don’t want to rezone, period, no matter what the project is,” Fisher said. “Why not go where it’s correctly zoned? There is zoned property in Pocatello that’s available right now.”

Fisher worries the facility would affect the safety and tranquility of the area and exacerbate existing traffic problems on narrow streets. He said neighbors have coordinated their testimony for the City Council and will each address a different aspect of why they believe Big Momma’s House would be a poor fit for the area.

Schwarze believes it would be tough for Big Momma’s House to relocate. He said the site is ideal because residents would be in close proximity to Yellowstone Avenue businesses, where they could potentially find jobs, and it’s also close to a bus route.

Schwarze had other Eagle projects fall through. His father, who is a friend of Pastor Thomas, gave him the idea, enabling him to complete an Eagle project before his 18th birthday, in time to earn Scouting’s highest rank.

“What’s interesting to me is this young man contacted me through his father and he just wanted to reach out and help,” Thomas said, agreeing residents of the area might change their minds if they “would just take the opportunity to read about it versus going by what someone else is saying.”

Thomas said the ultimate goal of the facility would be to help residents achieve home ownership.

“It is important that our facilities be located near entry-level jobs, transportation and services,” Thomas said.

According to the organization’s website, bigmommashouse.org, the facility would offer several educational, social-assistance, housing, behavioral health and medical services.