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Council members warn hotel-shelter program may end after funding cut; program has provided nearly 800 shelter nights over three years
Summary
Councilors said a municipal hotel-shelter program that provided roughly 795 shelter nights and about 1,100 meals over three years faces termination after Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds were frozen; organizers estimate about $1,000 remains in the program account.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Council members raised alarms Tuesday about a hotel-shelter program that places people in hotel rooms as a temporary shelter option, saying the program’s funding is nearly exhausted and a federal grant source has been frozen.
One councilor reported the program provided about 795 shelter nights over three years and served roughly 1,100 people and provided about 1,100 meals during that period. The program’s operating budget was described as roughly $19,000 per year; the speaker said only about $1,000 remained in the account at the time of the meeting and that the Emergency Food and Shelter Program funding that supported the program has been frozen by the current administration.
Council members said the program frequently served women with children and elderly residents with medical conditions when shelter beds were not available. Councilors urged constituents to contact congressional representatives to restore or replace funding and discussed exploring other local funding options to maintain emergency shelter capacity.
City staff and councilors described the program as a stopgap while permanent shelter capacity remains limited; council members said nonprofit partners serving food and shelter are also strained and that combined local efforts may be needed to avoid gaps in services.
