For Immediate Release                         Contact:  Barbara Poppe, (614) 221-9195

October 28, 2003

 

Funds & Plan in Place for

Winter Access to Shelter

      

COLUMBUS, OHIO, October 28, 2003—The Community Shelter Board announced at its board meeting today funding awards for Winter Access services.  Special services for the Winter are needed to assure that no homeless person is turned away from shelter during cold winter months and to relieve over-crowding to assure that men’s and women’s emergency shelters operate within their functional capacity.

 

Winter Access services will provide additional safe, basic overnight and case management services beginning in November 2003 and ending in April 2004.  Maryhaven, Lutheran Social Services/Faith Mission, and the YMCA of Central Ohio have agreed to either expand their capacity or manage motel usage, as well as provide case management services.

 

Funding awards were made in the following categories:

Agency                        Program                                    Funding Award
Lutheran Social Services Winter Overflow Center $85,300
Maryhaven   Engagement Center $27,000
YMCA of Central Ohio  System Overflow Beds  $17,700

                                                       

The Community Shelter Board, established in 1986, is a non-profit intermediary organization that coordinates community based efforts, fosters collaboration, and funds services to assist families and individuals in Central Ohio to resolve their housing crisis.  The Community Shelter Board allocates $7.5 million annually to support programs at 13 agencies.  Last year, these programs served more than 11,000 individuals.  The Community Shelter Board is funded by the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the United Way of Central Ohio, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Ohio, and other public and private donors.

 

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