[Vision2020] Moscow homeless shelter calls for help

[Moscow Cares]

Courtesy of today's (August 13, 2016) Lewiston Tribune.

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Moscow homeless shelter calls for help
Loss of grant funding prompts Sojourners' Alliance official to attempt to raise money from community
MOSCOW - Steve Bonnar is leaving it up to the community to decide if it wants to invest in the region's only homeless shelter that includes services for single men.

Sojourners' Alliance in Moscow will close for at least two months starting in September after learning that essential federal grant funding has not been renewed. Bonnar, the shelter's executive director, said he's secured pledges that will cover about half of the $125,000 needed to reopen.

The other half, he said, could be covered if 125 individuals or community organizations each pledged $500.

"If we reach that goal, ... we have enough where we reopen our doors Nov. 1 to get things back up and running," Bonnar said.

In May, Sojourners' received news its $102,000 federal grant for transitional housing would not be renewed. The grant funded a program that housed families and single men and women for as long as they needed to secure incomes and permanent residences. It also provided any additional services, including mental health or substance abuse treatment.

The transitional housing grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development expired June 1. Through local fundraising efforts, Bonnar has raised enough money to stay open until the end of this month to find alternate housing for the shelter's residents. As of Friday, Bonnar said two residents are still without alternate housing.

Bonnar has asked regional and state agencies for financial support to cover 20 beds dedicated to transitional housing residents at a cost of $6,500 per bed. He said Friday that the Idaho Department of Correction has pledged funding to pay for seven beds.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has pledged funding for one bed, according to Bonnar. He has also asked the Latah County commissioners for $12,500, which would pay for about two beds.

Last month, the Moscow City Council agreed to contribute $12,500 on the condition that Bonnar raise the rest of the funding. Bonnar has said he will not ask for funding commitments until the total number of pledges reaches $125,000.

The funds will be a one-time contribution to reopen Sojourners', Bonnar said.

"We can then go on and look at sustainability from that point after that," he said.

After receiving the same $102,000 grant for about a decade, with no adjustments for inflation or the cost of living, Bonnar's funding focus is shifting away from HUD. Running at a deficit has forced Bonnar to absorb a case manager position more than once, he said.

Grants for other programs like rapid re-housing also don't cover administrative costs like Sojourners' security guard, office manager or bookkeeper.

Additional federal rules make it more challenging to provide services to the homeless, he said. Of the two residents still at Sojourners', one is eligible to transition into the shelter's permanent supportive housing program, which has not been affected by the loss of the transitional housing grant and will continue to operate while the shelter is closed. But to qualify for that program, Bonnar said the individual will have to become homeless for 24 hours.

It's ludicrous," Bonnar said, adding that not using federal funds would mean Sojourners' could accept people directly from a hospital or jail without a requisite 24 hours of homelessness.

The loss of funding has been hard on residents at Sojourners', but Bonnar said it's something of a "blessing in disguise" for the organization itself.

"Either we'll be better for all of this and have healthier operations, or we'll close," he said.

Those interested in donating may call Sojourners' at (208) 883-3438 or send a letter to 627 N. Van Buren St., Moscow, ID 83843.

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Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" 
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
  
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