COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS DISTRIBUTION OF ROUND-UP FUNDS

for more information:
Ernie Slottag 789-2235

The Springfield Homeless Advisory Committee has identified two agencies that they are recommending receive funds that have been collected under the City’s Round-Up program. The recommendation goes to the full Springfield City Council for a final decision, which is expected in September.

The Committee has recommended that The Salvation Army be given $13,574.81 for the operation of this year’s Springfield Overflow Shelter. The Salvation Army will be operating this year’s overflow shelter, which will be available to homeless individuals from the first of November through the end of March.

The Committee also recommended that $3,600 be given to Mirrors, Inc. for their ongoing meals, services and outreach to homeless families at various shelters.

The Round Up Program was established several years ago to allow Springfield residents an easy way to help Springfield’s homeless by having their monthly CWLP bill rounded up to the next dollar. The additional amount goes to programs that assist the homeless. As an alternative to rounding up, CWLP customers have the option of adding a specified amount, such as $1 or $5, to each monthly bill under this program.

Funds raised through this program are placed in a special account. A seven-member committee advises the Director of the Office of Community Relations regarding how these funds should be distributed in order to help continue providing a service to the homeless. The Director of Community Relations, then, makes a recommendation to the City Council, which has the final say as to how the funds should be distributed. Programs selected to receive funds must have demonstrated the ability to effectively provide services to the homeless.

The Springfield Homeless Advisory Committee is made up of J. Paul Moore, Jacqueline Newman, Nicholas Stojakovich and Rita Lynn Tarr.