Kalamazoo City Commission approves $300,000 for winter shelter services, swears in 56th commission
According to the agenda report, this year’s winter shelter system will include a mix of day shelter, overnight congregate shelter, hoteling for medically fragile residents, and coordinated access services. Ministry with Community will operate an 80-bed day/night congregate shelter, with the capacity to expand to 91 beds during Code Blue weather. Dignity in Motion will provide hoteling for medically fragile individuals and their pets, and Housing Resources Inc. will handle shelter coordination.
Winter shelter operations are anticipated to begin December 1 and run through March 31, 2026.
During Monday night’s Kalamazoo City Commission meeting, commissioners unanimously approved an agreement with United Way of South Central Michigan/Continuum of Care to support winter shelter services in the amount of $300,000.The funding is the City of Kalamazoo’s portion of a larger joint proposal between the city, Kalamazoo County, and the Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care.
According to the agenda report, this year’s winter shelter system will include a mix of day shelter, overnight congregate shelter, hoteling for medically fragile residents, and coordinated access services. Ministry with Community will operate an 80-bed day/night congregate shelter, with the capacity to expand to 91 beds during Code Blue weather. Dignity in Motion will provide hoteling for medically fragile individuals and their pets, and Housing Resources Inc. will handle shelter coordination. Winter shelter operations are anticipated to begin December 1 and run through March 31, 2026.
“There have been lives lost and we will not have those lives lost in vain because we will do what we need to do to make sure it’s better for the future,” said Kalamazoo County Public Housing Commission member Patrese Griffin.
During commissioner comments, newly elected Commissioner Drew Duncan said a resident freezing to death was part of the reason he decided to run for office.
“I want to use this platform to say her name, Tammy Christie – that was our neighbor who froze in the cold last winter and who launched my campaign,” Duncan said.
Monday’s meeting included the final gathering of Kalamazoo’s 55th commission, followed by the swearing-in of the 56th commission. Duncan, the top vote-getter in the November 4 commission race, was sworn in as vice mayor. The vice mayor serves in the mayor’s absence.
Commissioners also approved an employment agreement with Patsy A. Moore, naming her interim city manager from Wednesday, November 19 through Sunday, January 4, 2026. New City Manager Malcolm Hankins is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 5, 2026. Hankins previously served as assistant city manager for Des Moines, Iowa.
Former city manager finalist and current Chief Operating Officer Laura Lam sat in the manager’s chair during the meeting and represented the office until an interim manager was appointed.
Commissioners also welcomed newly elected members Jae Slaby and Drew Duncan and thanked voters for their participation in this year’s election. Slaby and Duncan replace Commissioners Dan Cooney and Qianna Decker, who did not seek reelection.
Kalamazoo County saw a 23% turnout among registered voters. In the City of Kalamazoo, 10,403 voters cast ballots in the mayoral and commission races. The citywide turnout percentage was not yet available Monday.
The Kalamazoo City Commission will next meet on December 1 at 7 p.m. at 241 W. South Street in the City Commission Chambers.
Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
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