“Over the past few weeks, our organizations have been working hard alongside city staff to make this alternative work,” said Price, speaking for Mercy House Executive Director Larry Haynes and Resource Center Board Chairman Jason Paransky.
Key terms of the draft agreement:
The city will provide a 2,900-square-foot modular unit with two restrooms, utilities, a storage container, sleeping mats, two picnic tables, and chain link fencing for an entrance to the facility; pay for the permits and monthly utility bills and $16,662 a month to the collaboration to operate the facility; and budget $5,000 for incidental expenses, for a total cash outlay of $138,000 if the site is in operation from November to mid-June and the $5,000 is spent.
Evening transportation to the facility will be provided by the city buses, which already make the trip to ACT V, their nighttime depot, on weekdays. Other means of transportation must be used on weekends.
The collaboration will staff the location from 6 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. every day through June 15.
Two trained and paid staff members will supervise the facility during operating hours, except for one hour before it opens and between 1 and 4 p.m. when one staff member will be on duty.
Services will include managing volunteers; working with other service organizations and governmental agencies; coordinating meal programs; providing transportation assistance for homeless people with special needs; administering a program to provide showers at the resource center; laundering and maintain blankets, among other services.
Regular reports will be made to the city on the use of the facility.
The agreement can be terminated by the city with 30 days’ notice, by the collaboration with 60 days’ notice.
