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Terre Haute presenters outline formal warming-center plan and $1,200 daily activation pay to Reach Services
Summary
City officials presented a joint city–county warming-center plan that would reimburse Reach Services $1,200 per activation day and establish clear activation thresholds and fiscal-agent options. The plan aims to close an estimated shortfall in emergency bed capacity and create a transparent activation process and MOU with the county.
AT, the presenter for the warming-center task force, told the Terre Haute City Council on Nov. 6 that the goal of the plan is “to make sure that when temperatures become dangerously cold, every person in our community has a safe and warm place to go.” AT said the proposal formalizes an activation-based reimbursement model for the primary operator, Reach Services (Pathways Day Center).
The proposal sets a daily activation reimbursement rate of $1,200 payable to Reach Services when the warming center is officially open. AT described how that sum would be used: roughly 80% for staffing and overtime, 10% for utilities, 5% for food and basic supplies and 5% for cleaning, safety and other operations. AT noted that community donations supply most meals and blankets and that the funds would only be used on days the center is activated.
The task force presented four fiscal-agent options: (1) city holds and disburses funds, (2) county holds and disburses, (3) Wabash Valley Community Foundation acts as neutral fiscal agent and returns remaining funds annually, and (4) the foundation holds carryover funds across seasons to smooth future budgets. AT said the group prefers option four but emphasized the group is flexible.
Presenters walked council members through scenarios for shared city–county contributions. Sample paired contributions shown in the presentation ranged from $12,000 each (about 20 activation days) to $30,000 each (about 50 activation days). Based on historical weather and multiple modeling sources, the task force projected a wide range of 21–49 activation days for the coming winter.
The task force also proposed a joint activation protocol (a “white flag” plan) with specific, agreed thresholds: apparent temperature/wind chills of 5°F or below; National Weather Service wind-chill advisories/warnings for Vigo County; wet conditions at or below 32°F with winds greater than 10 mph; snow depth greater than 1 inch at 32°F or below; and power outages or declared emergencies that leave residents without heat.
Council members pressed presenters on county willingness to match funding, sustainability of donated meals and whether volunteers can staff sites. Councilperson Thompson thanked the task force for the plan and asked about county receptiveness; AT said county commissioners had indicated interest and that the presenter would brief the county council next week. Presenters said volunteers remain a force multiplier, but core staffing must meet program, training and liability standards that require paid staff for overnight operations.
The presentation stressed that warming centers are an emergency response, not a permanent housing solution: the plan’s immediate aim is harm reduction and connections to services. AT said the task force will pursue a memorandum of understanding between the city, county and Reach Services that clarifies activation authority, verification of activation days for reimbursement, and reporting.
Next steps: city staff will seek a formal county commitment at an upcoming county council meeting, select a fiscal-agent option if both jurisdictions agree, and finalize the MOU and operational communication protocols.
