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County allocates $22,000 from contingency to fund winter hoteling for unhoused residents
Summary
Kalamazoo County approved a $22,000 allocation from general fund contingency to support a City-led "heads and beds" hoteling program run by volunteers, with United Way serving as fiduciary. The program provided hotel shelter during a recent seven-day effort that housed 24 people.
The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners approved a $22,000 allocation from the general fund contingency on Feb. 18 to support the Kalamazoo Together for the Unhoused "heads and beds" hoteling program. The county’s contribution supplements $22,000 historically committed by the City of Kalamazoo and a possible $15,000 from the Continuum of Care (COC) mini-grant program; the program’s total operational cost was estimated at approximately $37,000.
County staff told commissioners the City recently partnered with the COC and designated United Way as the fiduciary because certain government funds cannot be awarded directly to grassroots groups. County staff asked for direction on drafting a funding agreement between the county and United Way to present to the board on March 4.
Administrators said the recent hoteling run lasted about seven days and, during the most recent period, housed 24 individuals. Commissioners and staff discussed program sustainability and whether COC mini-grants could continue; staff said the COC has awarded multiple hoteling intervention mini-grants and that additional funding sources were available but likely subject to thresholds and limits.
Vice Chair Taylor moved to allocate $22,000 from contingency to support heads-and-beds; the motion was supported and carried on a voice vote. Staff will draft a funding agreement with United Way and return it to the board at the March 4 meeting with administrative details including any administrative fee charged by United Way.
Commissioners and the administrator emphasized this is a short-term, emergency-focused measure to protect people from extreme cold; several commissioners noted the $22,000 allocation is less costly than emergency services or hospitalization costs and that volunteers organized the effort.
The board asked staff to include specific budget and fee details in the March 4 funding agreement and to provide information about program length, room counts and any ongoing funding plan.
