Sedona Council OKs $15,000 Grant to Catholic Charities for Cold‑Weather Hotel Program

The Sedona City Council voted unanimously to approve a $15,000 grant to Catholic Charities Community Services to manage an emergency cold‑weather overnight hotel program for people experiencing homelessness.

Council action came after a presentation by city housing staff and representatives of Catholic Charities and the Sedona Lodging Council that outlined roles, funding and operational safeguards for the program.

The program will operate when the Sedona Police Department determines cold or inclement weather triggers a response. Under the plan presented to council, police officers would identify people in need, complete a warm hand‑off with hotel management and transport the guest to the hotel. Catholic Charities would pay hotels directly under an agreed room rate and invoice the city monthly for reimbursement. Catholic Charities will enter participants into the coordinated entry system and the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and provide follow‑up and program updates to the city.

Jeanne (housing department staff) told council the city already has a budgetary set‑aside and expects to fund the program through a written funding agreement approved by the city attorney’s office. The contract term described in the presentation is three years; up to 30% of the funding may be used for allowable overhead, administrative costs, insurance and potential liabilities. Cheryl Baron of the Sedona Lodging Council told council properties willing to participate have discussed rates “between $130 and $150 a night.”

Cammie Rasband, director of homeless services for Catholic Charities Northern Arizona, said Catholic Charities will do the coordinated entry intake and follow‑up and that the organization has operated similar cold‑weather programs in Flagstaff and other counties. Deputy Chief Chris Dowell and other police officials told council the warm hand‑off model is intended to ensure consent, set expectations for hotel stays and give officers discretion to use the program when appropriate; they said officers would make on‑scene decisions about property and parking for people brought to hotels.

Councilor Fultz made the motion to approve the grant “pursuant to a written funding agreement approved by the city attorney’s office.” The motion was seconded and passed with all present council members saying “aye.” Vice Mayor Ploeg was noted as absent and excused during roll call.

Program managers said they expect to begin operations quickly if partners finalize hotel rates and program details; staff estimated the program could be operational within about three weeks to a month if partner coordination proceeds. City staff said additional funding requests could be brought back to council later if needed.

The council directed staff to finalize the written funding agreement with Catholic Charities and return any material contract terms for legal review and further council action as required.