SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — The overflow shelter at the Salvation Army building will not open on Friday, Oct. 1 despite officials hoping that it would.
So when can we expect the doors to fully open?
The Heartland Continuum of Care and the Salvation Army, which are in charge of opening and operating the shelter, say there is no exact date but that it all depends on when they can hire and train staff.
Captain Jeff Eddy with the Salvation Army says they will need to hire 12 employees but no one has been hired yet.
The applications aren’t even available and Eddy says he doesn’t know when they will be.
Newschannel 20 and Fox Illinois asked Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder what the backup plan is if they can’t find any staff.
“I will leave it up to the experts, the Heartland Continuum of Care, the Salvation Army,” Mayor Langfelder said.
So that’s what we did. We contacted the Heartland Continuum of Care asking the same question. This was the coordinator’s response.
“I can’t staff, I don’t staff, that’s not my role. Certainly, we will do everything possible to get it done as quickly as possible, that’s what we’re looking to do,” Josh Sabo said.
This has led us to ask Captain Eddy with the Salvation Army if they will have enough time to hire and train workers to open the shelter before it gets cold outside.
In a text, Eddy said, “In previous years, the conversation didn’t start until right now and we got it accomplished.”
Newschannel 20 and Fox Illinois spoke with Ward 5 Alderwoman Lakeisha Purchase.
Purchase says she’s confident the city and these other agencies we’ve been speaking with will be able to open the shelter before it gets cold outside.
The overflow shelter is part of the immediate needs section of the city’s plan to end homelessness.
Source: https://newschannel20.com/news/local/delays-in-opening-springfield-overflow-shelter