Livingston URA approves up to $35,000 to keep warming center open through March under reimbursement, last-dollar condition

The Livingston Urban Renewal Agency voted unanimously Feb. 20 to provide up to $35,000 to the Livingston Warming Center to keep the seasonal shelter operating through March 31, with a stipulation that URA funds be used last and not rolled over into the following year.

The vote followed an extended discussion about operating costs, funding sources and the URA’s role. A warming center operator described the program as a 20-bed seasonal shelter that typically operates nightly from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and said operating costs run around $45,000 per month; staffing is the largest line item, with overnight staff paid about $27.50 an hour. The operator said recent “code blue” cold snaps increased February costs, and current donations and city funding were expected to keep the shelter open only to March 7 without additional support.

City Manager Gager explained the URA would structure the award as a reimbursable grant “up to $35,000,” with URA dollars intended as the last funds used (the “but-for” test). Under that approach the warming center would submit invoices for actual costs, and the URA would reimburse documented expenses; if other donations arrived, those would be applied first and reduce the URA reimbursement. Gager also said standard reporting and a year-end summary from the shelter would be expected.

Members who supported the grant said they were motivated by immediate public-safety concerns and the shelter’s demonstrated demand, while expressing concern about setting a precedent for one-off operating grants and noting that URA funds traditionally target infrastructure and community amenities. Commissioner Lisa Garcia and others urged the warming center and community partners to pursue longer-term solutions and raised the possibility of directing part of any URA contribution toward planning for durable solutions.

The motion, made by Commissioner Julie Evans and amended by Commissioner Lisa Garcia to include the last-dollar and no-rollover conditions, passed on a voice vote of all members present. The URA asked staff to structure the award as a reimbursable grant and to include the last-dollar clause in the grant documents. The warming center operator said the center would provide invoicing and typical grant reporting and welcomed the arrangement.

Board members also discussed alternatives the shelter has considered in previous seasons — short-term hotel vouchers, shared church spaces, or transportation to the Bozeman warming center — and noted limitations, such as the Wind Rider bus schedule making round trips impractical for guests. Several board members asked staff to continue pursuing coordination with the Park County Housing Coalition and other stakeholders on longer-term responses to homelessness in Livingston.

The URA directed staff to draft the grant agreement with the reimbursement and last-dollar provisions and to return details to the board as needed; the agency indicated it would use existing internal funds to cover any short invoice timing gaps pending reimbursement.