According to a letter sent to the organization’s partners and an action plan obtained by the Springfield News-Sun, Sheltered Inc. began operating only its Hartley House location at 440 W. High St. on Monday morning. The shelter cannot exceed a 36-50 person capacity, according to the emergency action plan.
The shelter is open seven days a week from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., and now houses single women and families with children separate from single men. Individuals will be allowed to stay between 30-60 days — a decrease which, according to the emergency plan, will allow the organization to meet the needs of those on the waiting list.
“Our plan is to continue providing the same services to those seeking shelter, but on a reduced scale for the time being,” the letter stated.
A memo sent to Sheltered Inc. by the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services on Feb. 23 said the termination of the contract occurred after a monitoring visit review by staff from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, which identified issues with documentation.
The commission approved a sub-grant agreement with the nonprofit Sheltered Inc., formerly called Interfaith Hospitality Network, in June 2021. It awarded $700,000 in federal funding through the Ohio DJFS’ TANF fund, according to the agreement the Springfield News-Sun obtained through Ohio public records laws.
Clark County Public Information Officer Mike Cooper said Monday that Sheltered Inc. was reimbursed about $495,000 from the beginning of the contract until its termination.
Prevention, Retention and Contingency, or PRC, is a program through Ohio DJFS that provides work support and other services to low-income families. This program is funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a federally funded program.
People eligible for assistance through PRC include parents of children younger than 18 and pregnant women and teens. Services covered through PRC are the following: clothing and shelter, domestic violence housing relocation assistance, disaster assistance, transportation, employment and training.
The Springfield City Commission last month approved an up to $1.34 million agreement with Dayton-based Homefull nonprofit to provide housing, health, access to food, employment resources and more, a deal initially intended to go to Sheltered Inc.
Clark County Department of Job and Family Services Director Virginia Martycz said in a statement that the DJFS is doing what it can to provide housing for those affected by the closures.
“The Clark County Department of Job and Family Services and a variety of other providers are working with the Homelessness Task Force to ensure those in need do not fall through the cracks,” Martycz said in the statement. “We’re processing applications and placing residents in need in local hotels when appropriate.”
Health Commissioner Charlie Patterson said Springfield and Clark County are working to bring additional providers to fill the gap.
“It’s obvious from some of the communications that we’ve received from Sheltered Inc. that there are more people seeking and needing shelter right now than they are able to provide ... " Patterson said.
According to the Sheltered Inc. emergency plan, all individuals who sought shelter at the Norm’s Place location at 501 W. High St. were notified of the change on Wednesday.
Sheltered Inc. also operates a tax-credit affordable housing facility at Mulberry Terrace Apartments at 120 W. Mulberry St. It is not used for emergency shelter.
Credit: Bill Lackey
Credit: Bill Lackey
The remaining shelter will prioritize families with children on a waiting list, followed by two-person households, single women and lastly, single men. The waiting list is updated weekly.
Sheltered Inc. director Elaina Bradley said Tuesday about 12 employees will either be laid off or “transitioned to another position.”
She also said there are 248 people on the waitlist to be placed in housing.
According to the emergency plan, if the Sheltered Inc. facility is full, Clark County has an agreement with the Salvation Army to open an overflow shelter.
Anyone using Sheltered Inc.’s emergency shelter will receive case management services, according to the action plan. Case managers will provide referrals to other agencies for services the nonprofit does not currently offer.
“We will provide supportive services to help empower and engage clients to maximize housing stability and prevent returns to homelessness as opposed to addressing predetermined treatment goals prior to permanent housing entry,” the action plan stated.
Patterson said the goal for the county is to create a more long-term solution to a problem exacerbated by rising rent and home prices, as well as the inflation of other necessities.
According to the action plan, anyone whose “current employment with Sheltered Inc. is impacted” will be notified, and notices and layoff letters will be provided immediately with resources to access unemployment benefits and letters of reference.
Sheltered Inc. served 1,495 individuals through emergency shelter in 2022, 467 being children. Last year marked the second consecutive in which Sheltered Inc. has served more than 1,400 individuals, serving 1,736 in 2021, 644 being children.
Those experiencing homelessness can call 211 to receive housing resources.
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