BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. - Carol Hughes says she was just one of the parents at Bonita Springs Charter School who got an automated message from the principal Thursday afternoon.

Hughes says it detailed how Naples charity, St. Matthew's House, wanted to build a homeless shelter near the school, and what the principal thought about it.

"She didn't think it was good to have homeless people and drug addicts like that near the school," says Hughes, who is a recipient of St. Matthew's aid and a volunteer.

Over-capacity at its shelter for several years now, St. Matthew's has been searching for a site where it can expand its facilities.

Vann Ellison, president of the organization, says they have surveyed more than a hundred sites in North Collier, South Lee, and Hendry County, and so far no formal offers have been made. He would not confirm or deny whether property near the charter school was being considered.

"We have no plans filed with any government agency anywhere. Our attorneys have not filed any of those kind of requests for information. So I'm really surprised that they would come out after us," Ellison says.

Ellison adds that St. Matthew's has met resistance in the past when announcing plans to expand into a neighborhood, saying the fear usually comes from being uninformed about the organization.

Hughes agrees, saying she did not appreciate the message her school sent.

"It's a knee-jerk reaction: 'Oh my gosh, there's going to be hobos hitting up the parents as they drop off their kids,'" says Hughes. "But that's not what Saint Matthew's is about."

When contacted for comment, the school referred WINK News to spokesperson Colleen Reynolds who said the message was not authorized and was immediately revoked.

A new letter has been sent out to parents, which says St. Matthew's House has submitted a proposal to build on property adjacent to the school. It says the school is "monitoring the impact this could have" and asks parents to do the same, saying "if there comes a time in the near future where we need parental involvement, we will let you know additional steps."