City staff recommend $28,500 CDBG‑CV award to Nehemiah Foundation to operate winter warming shelter at Salvation Army

The Springfield City Commission heard a staff recommendation to use up to $28,499.95 in Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG‑CV) funds to support a winter warming shelter operated by the Nehemiah Foundation at the Salvation Army at 15 South Plum Street.

Logan Copps, director of community development, told commissioners the plan is to open the shelter for overnight use when temperatures reach 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below; typical hours would be 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. During extreme cold events (single‑digit temperatures), the shelter would operate 24 hours a day. Copps said guests would be offered dinner and breakfast, and case management would be on site to connect people interested in longer‑term shelter or housing services.

Nehemiah Foundation staff and Salvation Army leaders were at the meeting. Aaron Roy, representing Nehemiah, said the program will be low‑barrier (a sign‑in to access services) and that the Salvation Army has gymnasium space that has previously held large numbers — the shelter partners have handled up to about 100 people in that space in prior uses, he said. Roy and Copps both said exact formal occupancy will follow building‑code and fire‑safety limits and that staff will provide that number to the commission.

Copps cautioned that the federal government shutdown at the time of the meeting could delay reimbursement of federal grant dollars; the city would front costs and seek reimbursement after expenses are incurred. He said the award is a “not to exceed” allocation and that final drawdown would match the shelter’s actual operating costs.

Commissioners and staff discussed operational details including separation of women and children from men, case management and liability insurance requirements. Copps said the Nehemiah Foundation would supply certificates of insurance naming the city as an additional insured as required by the subrecipient agreement. The commission and staff also described volunteer orientation and training being scheduled in October so community volunteers could assist safely.

No final ordinance adopting the agreement was passed at this meeting; the item was presented as a first reading and staff said the partners would work through occupancy limits, insurance and other operational details before a final authorization.

Key points presented by staff and partners: - Location: Salvation Army, 15 South Plum Street. - Trigger to open: overnight operations when temperatures are 32°F or below; 24/7 in extreme single‑digit events. - Services: dinner and breakfast, overnight shelter, on‑site case management to connect guests to longer‑term housing and services. - Funding: up to $28,499.95 of CDBG‑CV federal funds; the city would front costs if federal reimbursements are delayed because of a federal shutdown. - Capacity: partners have previously accommodated up to about 100 people in the Salvation Army gymnasium; final occupancy will be set by fire and building code and communicated to the city.

Staff asked the commission to authorize the city manager to enter a subrecipient funding agreement with the Nehemiah Foundation for the period specified in the proposal. Commissioners expressed support for the plan and emphasized the need for community volunteer participation and coordination with existing homeless‑service providers; no final vote was recorded on the item at that meeting.