A Franklin County committee recommended Tuesday that more than half a million dollars in federal funding be awarded to a proposed homeless shelter in Washington.
Life’s River applied to the county’s American Rescue Plan Act Committee for $595,000 to expand and outfit the recently acquired building on Highway A. Work is required to fix the sprinkler system, plumbing, HVAC system, power supply, and others Upgrading areas while adding security cameras, furniture, bedding, appliances, and kitchen and bathroom accessories said an application filed with the county.
“Our site is in an industrial building per City of Washington planning and zoning and will require extensive conversions to become a residential building,” wrote Anne McPherson, President of Life’s River, in her application to the county.
The non-profit organization Life’s River aims to provide a safe environment with diverse educational and mentoring experiences for families in transition. According to the funding application, the county does not currently have shelters for homeless families, with an estimated 30 families in need of this type of shelter.
“Over the years, this shelter has the potential to help thousands of Franklin County residents get back on their feet,” the application reads.
The ARPA Committee consists of the three District Commissioners, District Inspector Angela Gibson, Treasurer Debbie Aholt and four area executives. Its recommendations must be finally approved during a regular commission meeting.
First District Commissioner Todd Boland, whose wife serves on Life’s River’s board of directors, and ARPA committee member Greg Hoberock waived the vote. According to previous Missourian Hoberock reportedly owns the building used for the shelter, while his wife McPherson is the director of the Washington Charitable Foundation, which will lease the building.
“I support it, I know a lot about it,” Hoberock told other committee members via conference call. “It’s something that’s been going on for several years. They have done a lot of work to get where they are today. They are very close.”
The county’s $595,000 grant would cover the entire cost of completing the building, according to the application. Life’s River has an annual budget of $350,000.
Second District Commissioner Dave Hinson said the program ties into other nonprofits to which the county has awarded ARPA funds, including organizations that help victims of domestic violence and at-risk children.
“They help people in need,” he says. “For me, this is a small investment that we can hopefully use to help several people in the long term.”
Gibson saw the need for such a shelter when he was distributing food to the homeless around Christmas.
“As you recall, it was very cold at the time and there weren’t enough resources anywhere in the county to accommodate the homeless,” she said. “It’s a little personal testament that I personally saw the need – and quite frankly it was very devastating. So my support would definitely be for this to happen, there is a great need here in the county.”
Washington City Council voted 5-3 in November to grant the Washington Charitable Foundation a special use permit to operate the shelter, according to the previous one Missourian Reporting. The council has placed several restrictions on the shelter, including limiting it to 25 people living there, except in special circumstances when it can accommodate five extra people for up to 30 days.
