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Linn County community‑services update: winter shelter usage rises, home‑health grant set to phase out
Summary
LCCS Director David Thielen told the board LCCS finances are on track through October but that SNAP delays increased general assistance demand; he said a state subrecipient grant for home health is being phased down to zero by FY2027 and that home‑health staff provided over 10,000 hours in FY25 with 157 on the waiting list.
Linn County Community Services Director David Thielen reported Tuesday that the department’s budget is tracking as expected through October but that staff have seen a recent uptick in general assistance applications tied to delayed SNAP benefits.
Thielen told the Board the county’s winter shelter served 35 people the first night it opened and 45 the second, and noted changes to intake inspections that allowed clients to lock belongings and improved peer‑support participation. "The first night had 35, the second night had 45," he said.
On home health, Thielen said state funding that has previously come to Linn County as a subrecipient grant has been reduced and is scheduled to tier down further, with the county expecting to go to zero funding in FY2027 under current plans. He said the program has offset some lost grant revenue by billing Medicaid for an increasing share of clients and that staff anticipated the change while making budget adjustments.
Thielen provided program metrics: home‑health staff provided over 10,000 hours of in‑home care in FY25; the program currently serves about 72 clients and has approximately 157 people on the waiting list. He also said Nicole is preparing an RFE/grant application for the Ryan White program, which historically has been about a one‑million‑dollar grant for that service.
Board members did not vote on budget changes at the meeting; Thielen said staff are continuing to make adjustments and will return with any items that require board action.
