Stepping Stones shelter closed for renovation; shelter leaders seek county operational support

Stepping Stones, the emergency shelter that serves people experiencing homelessness in Seward County, is temporarily closed for building renovations and related ADA work, county and shelter representatives said during a Seward County Commission budget work session. Shelter volunteers and staff asked commissioners to consider ongoing operational support — preferably reviewed quarterly — from county‑managed opioid settlement funds and other local grants.

Shelter representatives said the closure is not permanent and that residents living at the shelter at the time of the shutdown were placed into housing, with the Liberal Housing Authority cited as one placement route. Shelter leaders said construction bids for the renovation were received and will be reviewed at the commission’s next meeting; the renovations include a commercial kitchen area to combine soup‑kitchen and resident meal service, additional ADA bedrooms on the first floor, another accessible bathroom and laundry facilities, a family room conversion of an existing conference room, and security improvements on the second floor.

Why it matters: Shelter leaders said the improvements are intended to address safety, accessibility, and operational efficiency so the program can better meet increasing local demand for food security and short‑term supportive housing. Commissioners discussed the limited scope of county budget authority over grant funds and traded questions about the length of stay for clients and how the shelter’s operations intersect with regional programs.

Details from the meeting

• Temporary closure and resident placements: County and shelter speakers reported that the shelter’s closure is for renovation and that the people who lived at the shelter when it closed were not left on the street; those seven residents were placed into housing while construction continues. Commissioners were told the goal is permanent housing for those residents rather than a return to shelter living when the facility reopens.

• Renovation scope and funding: Presenters said construction bids have been submitted and will be reviewed at the next meeting; work funded in part by a one‑time allocation tied to “Senate Bill 125” (described by speakers as a one‑time allocation). Planned renovations include converting kitchen space to serve both walk‑ins and residents at a roll‑up service window, adding at least one additional ADA bedroom per gender on the main floor, a second accessible bathroom and washer/dryer, a family room, and secured restroom access on the second floor. Shelter presenters described roof repair work as a comparatively small, already‑addressed item and said the kitchen and ADA work are the priority.

• Operations and grants: Shelter leaders outlined a continuing need for operational funding (staff, peer‑support counselor positions described in earlier grant guidance, and other recurring costs) and said capital grants often cover equipment but not salaries. They requested the commission consider directing opioid settlement funds (a quarterly distribution described by presenters as roughly $15,000 this quarter) to help underwrite operations and asked to return for quarterly reviews so commissioners can re‑assess as settlement distributions change.

• Relationship with regional partners: Shelter staff described a “symbiotic” relationship with Cimarron Basin Community Corrections and other regional partners who place clients in Seward County services; commissioners questioned the degree to which non‑county residents use the shelter and discussed limits of county taxpayer support versus grant‑funded program activity.

What commissioners asked and directed

Commissioners asked for clarification about the closure length (shelter staff described the shut‑down as temporary and tied to construction scheduling) and whether residents had been left without housing; shelter representatives and county contact said no one was put on the street and that those residents had short‑term or hoped‑permanent placements. Commissioners and staff agreed they could discuss funding allocations again at the upcoming regular meeting but noted formal action should not occur in a work session.

Next steps and timeline

Shelter representatives said bids will be reviewed at the next meeting and that construction selection could occur then; staff projected reopening after the renovations, with aspirational timing discussed as January but not guaranteed. Shelter leaders asked to be scheduled for follow‑up in a regular meeting if commissioners want additional questions answered.

Sources and provenance

This article is based on statements in the Seward County Commission budget work session transcript (topic introduction and finish spans below).