Public urging and council debate over funding for Transitional Wellness Center, Rise Up and municipal vouchers ends with council narrowing priority to vouchers

Dozens of residents, service providers and student organizers pressed the Cambridge City Council during public comment Monday to fund a suite of homelessness and housing programs slated for potential cuts in the manager’s draft budget.

Speakers urged continued funding for the Transitional Wellness Center (the Spalding Center and related low-congregate shelter options), renewed support for Rise Up Cambridge and creation of municipal vouchers for hundreds of households they say face displacement. “We need to keep the transitional wellness center open, continue to fund the Rise Up program, and fund the municipal vouchers for the families that are unhoused or mixed status immigrant households,” Jacob Brown, a Magazine Street resident, said during public comment.

Many commenters framed the…