KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo County Commissioners split down party lines to add a half million dollars for the homeless into their 2019 budget in response to the community uproar over the issue.
The money would be administered by the County’s Housing Commission, which will be asked to come back with a recommendation on how best to spend the money.
It’s more likely to help those who have been waiting and working through the system, than the minority that has been protesting.
The Commission once operated its own secular homeless shelter. Commissioner Tracy Hall suggested they look at the old Nazareth Campus or some other facility and consider that as an option.
Commissioner Michael Seals joined Kalamazoo City Commissioners from the night before in suggesting that other local municipalities also find some funding and contribute to the effort.
Chair Stephanie Moore initially opposed The 11th hour budget amendment because it had not been fleshed out. But Sponsor Kevin Wordleman says there is an emergency that needs to be addressed. It passed on a party line vote 6 to 5, with Moore voting for it in the end.
The Budget passed 7 to 4, with Moore voting ‘no’ because of a second Wordleman amendment that could restrict her reimbursement for travel in the future.
