Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Shelter Coordination topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oshkosh council weighs funding for volunteer-run emergency shelters and coordinator role
Summary
Councilors discussed proposals to coordinate volunteer-run warming/cooling shelter space and asked city manager to consult county partners; Trinity faith community offered space but needs funding for one paid coordinator.
Councilors on Feb. 25 discussed possible city support to coordinate volunteer-run emergency sheltering and hygiene services for people experiencing homelessness, and asked the newly sworn city manager to explore partnerships with Winnebago County and nonprofit providers.
Why it matters: Council members and staff said existing nonprofits and county services are at capacity and that faith-based groups have offered space but lack staff and funding to operate year-round relief, including warming shelters in extreme cold and access to showers and laundry in warmer months.
Deputy Mayor Carl (surname not specified) introduced the item and said a local faith community had offered space but not staff or funding. Council members and staff discussed a model that would rely on volunteers from faith-based and other groups and fund a single full-time coordinator (an FTE) to manage training, volunteer schedules and day-to-day operation. The coordinator would be year-round to support both winter sheltering and summer hygiene services.
City manager Rebecca Grill said she would meet with county officials and bring back recommendations; several council members urged those meetings happen quickly so plans could be in place before the next winter. Grill recommended consulting county health and human services partners and looking at the budget process for potential funding or partnerships.
Council member Nichols and others said the city has resources that could be repurposed (for example, buses or city facilities at limited hours) and stressed collaboration with the county. Council members noted the city’s police outreach team has been assigned to downtown outreach but lacks place-based shelter options to which it can refer people.
Funding scope was not finalized. Council members described the principal cost as the coordinator position; other costs would be minimal if volunteers supplied on-site operations, donated water and coordinated logistics. No formal appropriation was made; council directed staff and the city manager’s office to pursue county conversations and report back with options and potential funding sources.
Ending: Council asked Grill to follow up with county partners and report back, aiming to advance planning before the next winter season and to consider shelter options as part of broader budget discussions.
