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Children's Home Society reports increased Lincoln County shelter use, outlines services and budget mix
Summary
Children's Home Society representatives told the board that shelter intakes and bed days serving Lincoln County have grown sharply, that the facility now has 108 beds (38 bedrooms), and that county funding represents just over 2% of their budget.
Kate Falmeier, program director for the Children’s Home Society shelter for family safety, updated the board on services and usage on March 11 and described a large year-over-year increase in Lincoln County intakes.
Falmeier said the shelter has been in a new facility for just over two years, expanded from 96 to 108 beds across 38 bedrooms, and that Lincoln County intakes rose from about 5 individuals per year a decade ago to 91 in the most recent year. She characterized the increase as a 30% rise from 2023 to 2024 for Lincoln County figures shown in the organization’s slides.
Services provided include emergency shelter, clothing and hygiene supplies, meals, transportation assistance, weekly case management, crisis advocacy, free counseling (three counselors) and outreach advocacy covering five counties, including Lincoln County. Falmeier said the shelter provides case management at least once per week and will continue services beyond an initial stay when safety or housing transitions require extensions. "We are always staffed 24/7, 365," she said, and described the facility as a locked structure with outside cameras.
Falmeier discussed outcomes the agency tracks to reduce returns to shelter and noted average length of stay is about 20 days; the program offers up to a 30-day stay and may extend stays for safety or housing transitions. She presented a budget breakdown indicating county funding is slightly more than 2% of the shelter’s revenue and said the program’s per-period operating figure for 2024 was "just over $12,000" as shown on her slide.
No board action was requested. Commissioners thanked the presenter and asked about security and services; Falmeier reiterated the shelter’s 24/7 staffing and locked facility model.
