First Step Shelter Parting Ways With Catholic Charities

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Daytona Beach, FL - The first item of new business on the First Step Shelter Board's meeting agenda tomorrow is the future of shelter management - CCCF or Catholic Charities of Central Florida.  The agency gave notice last week that they want to end the five-year agreement they have with First Step. Some Shelter Board members, including Chase Tramont, have not been happy with the differences in opinion on how to run the operation. "We'll be discussing the smooth transition from Catholic Charities to the First Step Board, taking over fulltime all the responsibilities for the day-to-day operations, no longer going through Catholic Charities to implement policy that we need." He said the Shelter will now be run by Dr. Victoria Fahlberg, Executive Director with the leadership of the Board.

Tramont said he disagrees with how the break was characterized by the local newspaper, who called it a "bump in the road."  He says he sees the break as more of a 'springboard.' "Catholic Charities was the right group at the right time to get us to the point that we're at.  But as operations continue to evolve, organizations grow a little bit, and responsibilities become a little different, it's prudent to evaluate where you're at and change as it goes forward." He said that he thinks that First Step has reached a "tipping point" where we want to start changing and evolving before things go on the downturn so we can keep going in an upward slope.

The change should make operations more efficient and effective, according to Tramont. "Anytime, with any organization, that you can get rid of a level of bureaucracy, you're always, inevitably going to find greater effectiveness and efficiency."

 The way the contract is written, Catholic Charities is to give 180 days' notice. When they gave notice last week, they requested to cease leadership effective August 2. Tramont said he's fine with that, as long as there's a smooth transition, all paperwork handed over appropriately so we don't have to go digging for needed information.  He said he believes this is the right move for First Step and is a good situation for everybody involved and that they will be able to do a lot more with a lot less.

As for the Safe Zone, a major point of contention between the First Step Shelter and Catholic Charities, it's being built and Tramont says it's going up quickly. He said the sooner it gets done, the better so that the promise to local municipalities will be fulfilled and they will be compliant with 'Pottinger's Law.' Board members have to establish policy for the Safe Zone and they'll be working on that during tomorrow's meeting.

First Step Shelter, Daytona Beach, Safe Zone