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Hospitality Hub urges council to fund hotel stays as women's beds remain scarce
Summary
Hospitality Hub told the Housing and Community Development Committee it is sheltering dozens after other providers cut capacity and asked the council for $12,000 to cover emergency hotel rooms; council members proposed a small, budget‑neutral reallocation of council grant funds to meet the immediate need.
Kelsey Johnson, representing Hospitality Hub, told members of the Housing and Community Development Committee that closures and program changes at other local shelters have left women and children especially vulnerable and increased demand at the Hub.
Johnson said Hospitality Hub had 122 people on site the week prior and counted 84 on the morning of the meeting, including about 20 children. She reported that some long‑standing partner facilities have reduced or ended sheltering for women — examples given included a men‑only conversion at ERC and the Salvation Army family shelter ceasing operations — leaving Hospitality Hub to absorb families and single women. Johnson said the Hub is also operating as a cooling center during heat events.
Johnson asked the council for $12,000 in near‑term cash to cover hotel placements for families and individuals who cannot safely return to the street at night. Council members asked operational questions about cooling‑center hours, whether other community sites such as 1st Baptist were available (Johnson said no) and whether library and community‑center space was being used earlier in the day.
Several council members signaled support for a quick funding fix. Councilwoman Logan proposed a budget‑neutral amendment that would reduce the per‑member discretionary council grant line by $1 to generate roughly $13,000 and moved a resolution to make funds available; the item was sent to the council floor with a favorable recommendation and a same‑day funding source confirmation was requested from administration staff.
Why it matters: Hospitality Hub said women and children now make up a substantial share of people seeking shelter, and the city lacks available, dedicated beds for families. The requested hotel funding would be a short‑term measure to prevent families from returning to severe heat and unsafe living conditions while staff continue development of Hub North, a longer‑term 60‑cottage project for families.
What’s next: Council requested additional documentation and pictures of Hub North construction progress, asked Hospitality Hub and HCD to return with a fuller accounting of federal funding cuts and local impacts, and members agreed to revisit progress in September.
