May 2, 2009 in City

House of Charity faces funding bind

Overnight housing may close for summer

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The House of Charity will close its overnight accommodations for homeless men during the summer unless it can find additional funding.

The shelter will remain open during daytime hours Monday through Saturday and it will continue all other services. But it will close its 108-bed sleeping program on May 31 and not open it again until fall, according to a notice distributed at the House of Charity, 32 W. Pacific Ave.

However, Robert McCann, executive director of the shelter’s parent organization, Catholic Charities, said no final decision has been made. He was still hopeful the shelter will be able to maintain the summer sleeping program, which has been running for the past two years.

McCann said he would meet soon with Spokane Mayor Mary Verner and Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick about financing the program.

“We are working with the city to find an alternative funding source,” McCann said.

He pointed out that it costs less than $8 a night to keep someone at the House of Charity as opposed to more than $81 at the Spokane County Jail.

The shelter’s summer sleeping program has been well-received by police and the downtown community since it began in 2007. “We thought we might get 30 to 40 people a night and instead we got about 100,” McCann said.

Tim Murray, 39, has been staying at the House of Charity for the past three weeks while he searches for work. He said he recently had a good job interview and he would be OK, but he was worried about the shelter’s older residents.

“I think we’ve got enough homeless out on the streets the way it is,” Murray said.

The shelter has provided beds to homeless men during winter months for the past 50 years, but for the past two years it was able to keep its sleeping program running May through September, at a cost of about $21,000 a month, thanks to the state Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act of 2005.

The act authorized recording fees on documents filed with the county, the proceeds to be used in large part to alleviate homelessness. The city administers these funds. Since 2005, however, the number of documents recorded has dropped nearly 26 percent. As of July 26, the recording fee will increase from $42 for the first page to $62, according to Auditor Vicky Dalton.

In March, the city appropriated $835,000 from this fund to several area social services agencies. Catholic Charities was awarded $198,000 for housing and shelter services, about $15,000 less than it received in 2008. Catholic Charities had requested $295,000 for this year.

“The challenge is that everyone is feeling the pinch of the economy,” city spokeswoman Marlene Feist said of social service organizations.

Catholic Charities was no exception. In March, McCann told The Spokesman-Review that the agency’s annual Christmas fund drive was down about $100,000.

Kevin Graman can be reached at kevingr@spokesman.com or (509)459-5433.

Two comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  ChefGus/ John Olsen on May 02 at 8:45 a.m.

  Kevin, thank you for your fine article. As always you draw a careful picture of the reality of low income and homeless issues in our county. Mr Murray has been volunteering in my kitchen for seven months, and has during that time been an on again off again resident at HOC when he could not find other housing. He is a fine example of what the process to help folks back on their feet who have had their lives take a turn downward.

  I can/could share many stories about the transition from HOC to a new life that occurs… a big part of that is our morning feeding program… the hot breakfast with 1200 or more calories gets people started.. your mama was right. breakfast IS the most important meal of the day. Shalom at Central Methodist is a finger in the dike as well.

  In my view the city should come up with funding for this need during the summer for HOC. There will be deaths if does not come through. There are gangs of young folks swirling around the streets currently downtown that rob and beat the homeless men and women.

  For those that want further insight into how it is to be schizophrenic or mentally ill, or drug addicted you can go see “The Soloist” currently running at AMC and other theaters…it is SlumDog Millionaire a la Los Angeles/Spokane.

  Mr Murray is getting a strong recommendation from me as my prep cook in the morning as a volunteer for seven months in his quest for a job in a local restaurant.

  Thanks for keeping this before the community. Best regards ChefGus

  Shalom Ministries at Central Methodist Church
  Breakfast Mon-Thurs at 07:30- 09:30, and Dinners at 16:30 on Monday evenings. Come on down and serve or see us some time.. :))

• 

  DianaLynn on December 30 at 2:29 a.m.

  Hello I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time, and tell you about me and this wonderful organization the I have put together.

  I am in my 60’s and I have this dream on making a difference in someone’s life. I have set up this organization called Nine Angels Charitable Foundation, LTD. I had a partner but under certain circumstances he had to back out and I’m looking for a new partner.

  My plans is to, help 18 years old who has or getting ready to get out of the foster care program with jobs, training, education, housing and so much more. Will also help Veterans with counseling, jobs, housing and anything else they may need. Anybody else that will have interest in helping themselves can also be a part of this.
  
  Nine Angels is a non-profit organization, does not get any funding from the government. I feel this will work out over time. Americans helping Americans is the future. From a small town, to a big city and hopefully before I’m gone all over America.

  I know everybody has had a dream and thinks a change is need. “I know I do”!…
  So please, I’m asking you to “help me make a difference”!

  Please call for more information so you can be a part of this.

  Thank you

  Sincerely,
  Diana Lynn
  (317)966-6102
  Or you can write me at
  P.O. Box 8811, Bloomington, In 47401