Homeless services lead committee recommendations for city ARPA funding

A Springfield City Council committee this week recommended the use of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for homeless services and affordable housing.

Council's ARPA Review Committee on Oct. 11 voted to recommend the allocation of around $7 million for those causes, according to a news release. A bill is being drafted for consideration starting at council's Oct. 17 meeting.

“This will help address the top- priority needs identified in the consultant report provided to City Council,” ARPA Committee Chair Matt Simpson said in the release.

The committee's proposal would see the use of $3 million in ARPA funds for the construction of a day center; $2.8 million to supplement a previously approved homelessness initiative; $2.2 million to create a noncongregate shelter; $650,000 to provide respite care services for the homeless; and $550,000 to support affordable home ownership.

Community Partnership of the Ozarks submitted the proposal for the day center, and The Connecting Grounds submitted the proposal for the respite care services.

If council approves the task force's recommendations, the city's Planning & Development Department will issue four requests for proposals for the various projects, according to the release.

The committee additionally is recommending $150,000 in ARPA funds for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southwest Missouri's plans for a clubhouse and play space for foster children, as well as $100,000 for capital improvements at Lincoln Cemetery, a historically Black cemetery.

Should the funds be allocated by council, the city would have more than $2.7 million in ARPA funds remaining, according to the release. The city originally received $40 million in ARPA funding from the federal government.