KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo County officials have been dispatched by the county board to ask other local municipalities for help to pay for emergency winter sheltering for the homeless.
So far they have gotten a couple of maybes, but no commitments.
The city of Kalamazoo has already committed up to $500,000 for the upcoming Winter Solutions Shelter Initiative.
County government is putting up $250,000 and the Continuum of Care, which is coordinating the effort, is contributing up to $100,000 and staff time. This is the second year for the joint project.
Deputy County Administrator Lyndi Smith says it’s a community wide issue and should have a collaborative solution.
This week, the Portage city council greeted Smith with skepticism.
Mayor Pro-tem Jim Pearson asked Smith to justify the request with numbers.
Portage councilmembers say they have to show constituents that the are spending tax dollars wisely.
Mayor Patricia Randall says collaboration is a good thing but Portage already does their part.
They sent Smith off with a list of questions they want answered, and will take up the county’s request at their September 8th meeting.
Comstock Township, Texas Township, and the city of Parchment said no.
Kalamazoo Township says it will consider it at budget time in November. Oshtemo Township received the request but hasn’t decided yet.
Six local municipalities were asked to consider specific amounts, based on population and municipal budget size. Kalamazoo Township: up to $50,000, Parchment: up to $15,000, Comstock, Texas and Oshtemo Townships were asked for up to $25,000 and the city of Portage was asked to pitch in up to $100,000.
The accepted designation for cities like Kalamazoo, where the homeless tend to congregate, is a host community because that’s where shelters and hospitals are located.
All the others are called donor communities, but for now locally all they are contributing is their homeless.
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