KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – We may be enjoying temperatures in the 80s and 90s right now, but soon enough temperatures may be dipping back near zero.
Organizations are already preparing for the emergency measures that will be needed this winter, to make sure no homeless residents freeze to death.
The Kalamazoo County board will be asked to contribute $250,000 to the program administered and partially funded by the Continuum of Care and the United Way, about half what they contributed last year.
Deputy Administrator Lyndi Smith says since last year the Landing Place family shelter has opened, and they have a system in place to better assign singles to shelter beds.
“The board has decided to allocate funding for respite care as well and so the concentration really is on our singles and what type of resources that they still need.”
The city of Kalamazoo may contribute more this winter and there is some leftover funding from last year.
County board vice chair John Taylor would like to see other local municipalities also contribute.
“I think if a token amount of money just to be a part of this process I think it would go a long way towards building that intergovernmental cooperation.”
A county memo states they expect the budget for emergency sheltering will again be around $700,000 this coming winter season.
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