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RightTrack Resource Center asks La Grande council for small utility-fee to sustain shelter services
Summary
RightTrack Resource Center told council it helped dozens find housing during the recent winter and requested a $2–$3 per-customer utility fee to stabilize operations and meet relocation costs after losing its current site; volunteers and board members reiterated that steady funding is needed.
Representatives from RightTrack Resource Center described the organization’s year-round shelter, warming-station and outreach services and asked the council for stable local funding to replace an upcoming loss of their current site.
Olivia Kolgen (speaker 8), the group’s board chair, said RightTrack’s outreach and daytime services plus community-health worker efforts helped “31 individuals gaining long term stable or inpatient housing during this most recent winter season.” She told council the program will need significant funds to relocate from its third‑street site (which will no longer be available) and to make new facilities code‑compliant (for example, installing sprinklers).
Volunteers and supporters — including Deborah Whitewaters (speaker 1) and Evelyn Wallace (speaker 14) — asked the council to consider a small utility-based fee (suggested $2–$3 per utility bill) dedicated to RightTrack to ensure continued operations, staffing and facility upgrades. Councilors noted the request and directed staff to explore options and public-notification mechanisms relating to any proposed utility-fee change.
