E.L. City Council funds homeless study

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A grant of $10,000 was awarded to Volunteers of America by the East Lansing City Council on Tuesday.

The grant funds a study of East Lansing’s homeless population, which is to be carried out by Volunteers of America in cooperation with the East Lansing Police Department. The study, which would use $7,050 of the grant, would identify what services are needed in the area to provide support for the homeless.

Volunteers of America approached the council after recognizing a possible $90,000 shortfall in its funding for its project.

In 2007, the City Council passed an ordinance banning the homeless from sleeping in the city’s parking ramps.

Although Mayor Vic Loomis had doubts about contributing 10 percent of the funding for the project, Mayor Pro Tem Diane Goddeeris was in favor of the grant.

“It would show a support that may be a jump for other municipalities to fund organizations like the Volunteers of America,” she said.

The city also awarded $2,500 to Haven House, 121 Whitehills Drive, which provides temporary shelter for the homeless.

“We have a responsibility to be aware of what the homeless needs in East Lansing are,” said Stephanie Gingerich, an East Lansing community development analyst. “We participate in this network that tries to provide service and raise awareness.”

The council also discussed the possibility of using a surplus in city funds to make improvements to areas of public use, such as Hannah Community Center and the East Lansing Public Library. Councilmember Kevin Beard said the surplus came from funds that were budgeted for other projects last year.

“Rather than issue debt to improve some things in the city … we plan to use cash to finance those things instead,” he said.

The council is scheduled to begin discussing the budget for the 2009 fiscal year later this month. The council will cover the entire budget in its next few meetings by breaking it down into separate topics, such as sewage and water treatment. Separate meetings for each topic also will be held.

The council is considering a $65 million budget, which is 8 percent, or about $5.7 million less than the 2007-08 budget. Under the budget proposal, there is a $700,000 decrease in funding for city streets and a more than $2 million decrease for construction and maintenance projects.

Staff writer Brian McVicar contributed to this report.

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