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County extends short HRI contract to maintain 24-hour shelter coordination while longer program is finalized
Summary
Kalamazoo County approved a short extension to a contract with Housing Resources Incorporated to continue shelter-diversion and access-coordination services while staff and partners finalize a longer-term shelter coordination agreement; staff reported 24-hour call coverage and that family waiting lists have been cleared.
The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners voted on June 16 to approve an amendment extending a short-term contract with Housing Resources Incorporated (HRI) so the county can continue shelter diversion and coordinated access while a long-term contract and broader provider participation are finalized.
Deputy Housing Director Willie Toronto and county administrators told the board HRI has expanded operations, including 24‑hour phone coverage for housing assessments and a reported clearing of the county family waiting list. Staff said that while only one partner (Family Promise/The Landing Place) is currently participating in shelter placements under the coordinated system, conversations with additional providers are underway and staff expect to return with a final contract and a timeline for wider provider participation within about one month.
Commissioners raised capacity and transfer concerns after staff reported the Landing Place was more than halfway full; administration acknowledged ongoing work to develop transfer policies and to ensure families are not asked to leave emergency settings without an available referral path. The chair and housing staff said the county is actively developing a shelter-transfer policy and implementation metrics to reduce the risk of families being placed back on the street while vacancies exist.
The motion to extend the short-term agreement passed by voice vote; staff said additional funding requests and a contract with defined metrics will come back to the board for approval.
