The Life Hub ‘Significantly’ Short on Winter Shelter Funding

Eric Ayres

WHEELING -- The Life Hub on Monday announced that its winter shelter for the homeless would be opening on Dec. 15 and that the three months of its operation had been fully funded by donations, but officials this week subsequently stated that this was a miscommunication and is not the case.

In fact, the funding needed to operate the winter shelter at the new Life Hub location on 16th Street, the site of the former First English Lutheran Church, is "significantly" short. Donations continue to be accepted.

The shortfall was noted during Tuesday night's city council meeting, when a room full of citizens came out to speak on the city's pending ban on camping on public property. Most of the speakers on hand voiced passionate and sometimes emotional opposition to any proposed action that would displace members of the local homeless population.

City Councilman Ben Seidler noted that initial indications were that enough money had been received to keep the winter shelter open from Dec. 15 through March 15, but there were some lingering questions about funding.

"I was under the impression that we were scrambling to finalize the funding for that," Seidler said, requesting that Wheeling Homeless Liaison Melissa Adams clarify the matter. "Are we funded for winter freeze, or are we still scrambling to pull it together (funding)."

Adams, who also serves as the interim executive director for The Life Hub, noted that it was indicated that contributions from local donations and other sources had fallen into place before Monday's announcement about the winter shelter. However, she acknowledged that there was a miscommunication about outstanding contributions.

"I was under the impression that we were, but I was told just the other day and received documents stating that we are not," Adams said during Tuesday's Wheeling City Council meeting. "We are short by quite a significant amount."

On Wednesday, Adams explained that the operation is currently about $60,000 short of its goal to operate during the season's most frigid months. The Life Hub is expected to make around 50 beds available in the evenings for members of the local homeless community at the former church facility.

Officials indicated that funds from foundations and donors were expected to be on the horizon, but the cost to operate a fully staffed facility for three months could still require an additional $25,000 or so.

The Life Hub operation is fully supported by grant funding and donations, and officials said contributions from individuals and corporate entities are accepted year-round. Additional funding beyond the core three-month winter period is also being sought in hopes of offering shelter before Dec. 15 and after March 15, if possible.

Contributions are also being sought for the long-term goal of The Life Hub - to open a low-barrier shelter at the former church site that operates year-round with support services and trained staff on hand to help individuals get their lives back on track and break the cycle of homelessness.

"We are working hard, Melissa is working hard and The Life Hub is working hard to fund that winter freeze shelter, but it's not funded yet," Seidler noted. "So we need assistance. We need people to step up and do that."

In August, a public work session took place during which entities outside those involved with The Life Hub complained of duplication of services and questioned the legality of having Adams and Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron play roles on The Life Hub's administrative team and on its board of directors, respectively. Legal opinions clarified that both Adams and Herron - employees of the city - were not compensated for their work at The Life Hub and had no conflict of interest with their work to get The Life Hub off the ground.

But fallout from that controversy took a toll, officials indicated.

"Part of the negative impact of that conversation and the complaints about duplication of services and things like that - that kind of took a major hit for that organization," said Seidler, who along with other council members and representatives of many other local service providers have applauded Adams for her ongoing efforts with The Life Hub. "This is a project that has already moved mountains in its short period of existence to begin to address the needs of our homeless in a meaningful way, and the negative dialogue that occurred during that session has already had a negative impact on this Life Hub. They've already seen a major decrease in their external funding streams that were directed towards The Life Hub."

Seidler on Wednesday said the time is now for local charitable organizations, churches, corporate entities, individuals and other stakeholders to make contributions to help The Life Hub in its efforts while parties continue to work toward a realistic, long-term solution to the city's growing dilemma with homelessness.

"We're not here to criminalize homelessness - I hate that phrase, I'm annoyed by that phrase and I'm offended by that phrase," Seidler said. "We're working really, really, really hard to find a solution to this."

Those wishing to make a donation can mail checks made out to The Life Hub to P.O. Box 2089, Wheeling, W.Va. 26003. Electronic donations can be made via a link on the website lifehubwv.org.