Homeless Option Discussed By County Council Would Have HUM Lead The Project

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homeless close up

DeLand, FL-County Council discussed a possible homeless shelter option at the end of Thursday's meeting centered around a suggestion by Councilman Josh Wagner that Halifax Urban Ministries take the lead. Wagner talked about the current HUM project at Hurst Elementary School that will end up as a shelter for families and teens called "Hope Place". Wagner suggested giving HUM $1.5 million in $300,000 yearly costs over a five year period. It would be up to HUM to then find the other 50% of what has been estimated to be a $600,000 yearly bill to operate a shelter. Wagner called HUM an "excellent partner" referring to the "Hope Place" project. County Manager Jim Dinneen said he had already been looking at financial options to do something like this and HUM would have to sign an agreement with the county to use the money over that  five-year period and show an ability to run the shelter. Wagner said he had talked with HUM Executive Director Mark Geallis recently though Geallis said in media reports he wasn't aware the proposal would be discussed ahead of the Thursday meeting. The Daytona Beach City Commission recently committed $400,000 to homeless solutions still not specified. Geallis has talked to reporters, including WNDB, about possibly using an existing building at its operation on North Street in Daytona Beach. The discussion ended with Dinneen tasked to reach out to HUM about contract specifics and a possible plan. That would have to come back to county council for its consideration. 2016 Southern Stone Communications Copyright