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Task force hears warnings that hotel/motel sheltering is costly; RECAP reports Fuel Fund spending
Summary
County leaders and RECAP officials said hotel/motel sheltering strains families and budgets and urged investing in housing; RECAP reported approximately $45,000 spent from its Fuel Fund and said it expected to spend the balance by mid-November (transcript gives no year).
Chairwoman Genesis Ramos and Michele McKeon of RECAP argued that, from a public-cost perspective, investing in permanent housing and housing programs is more cost-effective than repeatedly subsidizing hotel and motel sheltering through the Department of Social Services.
McKeon said hotel and motel placements are not optimal for families who are forced into single-room stays and lack cooking or reheating options, increasing reliance on food pantries and other services. She warned that if HUD NOFA or housing-first funding were to change, the county Department of Social Services could face increased responsibility for sheltering.
When asked by Chairwoman Laurie R. Tautel about RECAP’s Fuel Fund, McKeon said RECAP had spent approximately $45,000 and anticipated spending the remainder 'by mid-November' (the transcript does not specify a year). The task force discussed these costs as part of broader planning; no funding decisions were made at the meeting.
