City approves three grants totaling $125,000 for local emergency shelter, rent and warming‑center support

The Paducah Board of Commissioners on Aug. 12 approved three grant contracts totaling $125,000 to local nonprofit providers to support emergency shelter, short‑term rental and utility assistance, and operational support for the city’s warming center.

The city allocated $50,000 to Paducah Cooperative Ministry for emergency shelter services, supplies and 10 percent toward operational costs; the ministry provided a required dollar‑for‑dollar match. The commission then approved $50,000 to Family Service Society to help households at imminent risk of homelessness with rent, utilities and case management; Family Service also provided a $50,000 match and estimated it could serve about 140 households with the funds. Finally, the Washington Street Community Development Corporation (doing business as Washington Street Warming Center) received $25,000 to fund a part‑time administrator to coordinate volunteers, donations and operations, matched by $25,000 from the organization.

City staff said one of the grant conditions is that city funds be used to benefit Paducah residents. Commissioner questions sought assurance that recipients would limit use of city funds to residents; staff said the agencies committed to that requirement. The commission approved each municipal order by roll call. Commissioner Henderson stepped away from the dais and did not vote on the warming‑center item, per the record.

City staff said the grants resulted from an earlier application round to distribute homeless services funding; $25,000 of the originally planned $150,000 remains in a project fund for future decisions by the commission.