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Project Now supporters urge council not to close winter shelter; speakers cite housing outcomes and economic contributions
Summary
Multiple speakers, volunteers and Project Now representatives told the council that the Project Now winter shelter provides critical services, has moved people into housing, and contributes to downtown economic activity; several urged the council to honor agreements with the nonprofit and not terminate services midseason.
Supporters and volunteers for Project Now urged the Rock Island City Council during public comment to continue emergency-winter shelter operations and to honor the organization's agreements with the city.
Ron Lund told the council that the shelter opened Jan. 17, 2025, and, as of the prior night, had provided emergency housing for 137 individuals over 52 nights. Lund said the shelter accepts men, women and families in the same facility and noted the age range among clients from 7 months to 73 years.
Project Now board member Emily Cummings said the shelter is "not just providing temporary shelter" but is working to place people into stable housing, and she urged the council not to "cut off a lifeline for those who need it most." Janice Scholl, a volunteer hostess, described the shelter as a necessary resource during bitter cold and said many clients are respectful; she noted emergency departments become alternative shelter when no options exist.
Several speakers described Project Now's broader local contributions. One speaker said Project Now purchased the Starcrest building at 1830 Second Avenue, brought roughly 40 employees with a combined payroll of about $1.8 million (projected to increase to more than 50 employees and $2.3 million after renovations), and had provided roughly $2.5 million in assistance to residents through utility/rent/deposit support and other services. The speaker also said Project Now paid Friendship Manor about $470,000 for senior meals and purchased $51,000 in fuel from the city.
Project Now representatives said that interruptions to services would sever case-management connections: speakers reported five clients had moved into housing with their own keys and another five were in the housing corridor; they said terminating service now would risk those gains. A Project Now representative said the organization had not been shut down but temporarily transferred its warming center to a partner to reduce site traffic while moving operations to a new facility at 1830 Second Avenue.
Why it matters: Speakers framed the shelter as a public‑safety and public‑health service that keeps people out of emergency rooms and off harsh streets in winter, and they warned that closing the shelter would push vulnerable people into unsupervised streets or back into abusive situations. Multiple volunteers and residents urged compassion and partnership among city leaders, businesses and service providers.
What the council did: No formal council action to close or remove Project Now was recorded during the meeting. Speakers requested the council "honor the agreement" it has with Project Now and to continue working with service providers on constructive solutions.
Context and numbers to check: Shelter opening date (Jan. 17, 2025), nights open (52), individuals served (137), youngest client (7 months), oldest (73), Project Now payroll and assistance figures (as reported by speakers) and payments to Friendship Manor and city fuel purchases were stated during public comment and should be verified with agency records for reporting.
