R91-60 APPROVING SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATION FOR EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTER

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PROPOSAL SUMMARY Through the Emergency Shelter Grants Program, the Decatur-Macon County Opportunities Corporation is proposing to renovate a house and provide repairs to another house . Both houses , located at 262 East Center and at 960 North Jordan, are currently owned by the City of Decatur . The City is propo�ing to give DMCOC the houses to use as Emerqency Shelters, if we can secure the funding to renovate the house at 262 E. Center and complete the repairs needed at 960 North Jordan. DMCOC has leased the house at 960 North Jordan 'from the City since 1975, utilizin.g it as an Emergency Shelter . if this proposal is approved, DMCOC will accept title to the two properties mentioned above, and provide the necessary renovation and repairs as explained in this grant. We will continue to utilize the house located at 960 North Jordan while the repairs are being made . The house at 262 East Center will not be used until the renovations are complete . Currently, the house at 960 North Jordan is the first alternative for shelter of a homeless family. If another homeless family needs shelter , they are placed in a local motel . When the house becomes empty, the family in the motel is either moved into the house or another homeless family is moved in. Once both houses become oper- ational , two homeless families could be sheltered at the same time . Then, if a third family needs shelter, they would be placed in a local motel until one of the houses become available. Since the program rarely shelters more than two families at once , by having a second house the usage of the motel should be reduced substancially. Instead of paying an average of $30� per night for shelter at a motel , the Agency would only be providing for the monthly operational expenses of another house . Our costs will decrease , so that more families could be sheltered through our limited resources . DMCOC is the designated Community Action Agency for• Macon County � and has provided a variety of social service programs for the I low-income and elderly populations since 1964 . During 1989, the i , Agency served a total of 7 , 343 families with 14 , 307 members . Of I those, 44� were minorities; 14% were handicapped; 42� were over 60 i� years of age ; 91� had income below the poverty level ; and 21� lived 'I alone . ', The total Agency budget for 1989 was $2 , 391 , 890 . Federal, State, local government ( townships , villages and the Macon County Board) , and contributions/fees/donations totaled 88% or $2 , 108 , 278 . The remaining 12� or $283 , 512 was soft match (or inkind) in the form of VISTA Volunteer time , donated space from the local governments and area organizations, volunteer time provided on behalf of DMCOC, businesses donations and donated items from the community. -12a-