KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – It’s a holiday surprise for Kalamazoo’s homeless.
Kalamazoo city commissioners held a public hearing for their 2025 budget, announcing a late amendment to set aside money for the homeless.
City Manager Jim Ritsema announced that commissioners Qianna Decker and Stephanie Hoffman worked with staff to carve the funding out of their remaining ARPA dollars.
For months, homeless advocates have been calling for just such a move.
During the public hearing on the budget plan, Tobey Hannah Davies with ISAAC applauded the action.
Commissioner Don Cooney says it will make sure the most vulnerable are protected for now.
He says “we can’t solve the whole problem of homelessness, but we can do a lot of things, and I think it shows the community how much we care.”
It was not spelled out how exactly the half-million would be spent, but if temperatures drop to dangerous levels, there would be money for temporary shelters.
Final action on the budget will take place at their January 7th meeting.
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