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Council presses MDO on shelter maintenance, wellness‑center contracts and bed expansion costs
Summary
During the MDO FY2027 hearing, council members sought explanations for apparent disparities in maintenance spending across shelter contracts, details on shelter‑bed expansion costs, and the occupancy and expansion plans for Riverview Wellness Village; MDO and OHS pledged a facility‑level cost breakout.
Council members pressed the Managing Director’s Office for a clearer accounting of maintenance and emergency‑housing costs embedded in the FY27 budget.
Council raised a specific discrepancy: the wellness center contracts (referenced as a $6.7 million maintenance contract with a vendor named Elliot Lewis) versus a $2.8 million figure reportedly covering Office of Homeless Services emergency‑housing maintenance across many facilities. Department of Public Property Commissioner Joe Braskki said DPP maintains the wellness center and PhillyHome at Gerard but does not administer OHS maintenance contracts. Cheryl Hill, executive director of the Office of Homeless Services, explained that some maintenance is performed by city employees and that contract scopes differ by facility square footage, security needs and included services. MDO committed to provide a facility‑by‑facility breakout including class 100 allocations and contract details.
On shelter capacity, council members asked about a FY26 shelter‑bed expansion where $4.1 million was allocated and the total cost was described as $10 million; MDO said it would follow up with a full FY25 underspend and FY26 anticipated underspend breakdown after consulting Finance. Isabelle McDev, executive director of Community Wellness & Recovery, reported Riverview Wellness Village operating at about 95% capacity since January 2026 with 234 licensed beds and said another 51 beds would open later in spring; a future building could add roughly 300 residential beds subject to capital planning and procurement timelines.
Council requested follow‑up on minority participation in OHS contracts, medical respite bed counts and how temporary winter beds can become year‑round services. OHS and MDO agreed to return with detailed responses and supporting documents.
