Title
RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE CITY’S SUPPORT FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND AMENDING THE ALLOCATION REQUEST OF $500,000 IN FUNDING FROM THE SALE OF THE CIRRUS INCUBATOR BUILDING AND FURTHER REQUESTING UP TO $500,000 IN FUNDING FROM DEDA FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 120-BED TEMPORARY SHELTER AT THE DAMIANO CENTER.
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BY PRESIDENT RANDORF AND COUNCILORS TOMANEK, FORSMAN, AND NEPHEW:
WHEREAS, the city council desires to reaffirm the city’s support for those experiencing homelessness;
WHEREAS, the city council recognizes that the city is primarily responsible for providing core public services in areas such as streets, utilities, and public safety, but not public health and human services;
WHEREAS, the city needs strong county, state, and federal partners to continue to make progress on funding the creation of new shelter and permanent housing options for those experiencing homelessness to provide a safer option than unsanctioned encampments;
WHEREAS, the city recognizes Churches United in Ministry (“CHUM”) is a vital partner and the largest service provider, serving over 8,000 low-income, homeless, hungry, isolated and marginalized people in Duluth every year;
WHEREAS, the CHUM 2025 shelter expansion project will double its emergency shelter capacity; and
WHEREAS, if the CHUM shelter expansion project fails to commence due to lack of a temporary shelter for those currently served by CHUM, $8 million in state funds and $2 million in federal support could be placed at risk.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the city council formally requests that the $500,000 in funding granted to CHUM as fiscal sponsor for Stepping on Up for public infrastructure and emergency triage housing by resolution 23-0933, be transferred to Damiano of Duluth, Inc. for the construction of a 120-bed temporary shelter at the Damiano Center, 206 W. 4th Street, payable from fund number 110-700-1450-5310.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city council intends to ask the Duluth Economic Development Authority (“DEDA”) to take formal action on the city’s request in resolution 24-0588 and specifically requests that DEDA allocate up to $500,000 to Damiano of Duluth, Inc. for the construction of a 120-bed temporary shelter at the Damiano Center.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of this resolution is to reaffirm the council’s commitment to working with local service providers and county, state, and federal government partners to provide safe shelter options for those experiencing homelessness throughout Duluth by amending the allocation of up to $500,000 from the sale of the Cirrus Incubator building, and requesting DEDA allocate up to $500,000, to be designated to the creation of a 120-bed temporary shelter at Damiano Center, 206 West 4th Street, on behalf of CHUM during their 2025 shelter expansion. It is the intent of this resolution to confirm the council’s intent that the city and DEDA’s total support for this project is for an amount up to $1,000,000.