PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) - Officials say a western Kentucky homeless shelter for women and children may be forced to close.
Paducah Cooperative Ministry, which runs the emergency shelter, said it received notice this month that it couldn’t take in new clients and current tenants have to be out by October.
The ministry said it allows clients to live in units it rents from the Paducah Housing Authority.
Housing authority Director Cal Ross told The Paducah Sun (https://bit.ly/QQNLVD) that due to federal regulations the agency could no longer help
“We are very sensitive to the needs of the homeless people, and especially the women and children served by PCM,” Ross said. “But we can no longer let somebody else use our apartments for their own homeless program, and that’s the issue.”
Ross said he will present the board of the housing authority with a new admissions policy that would move homeless people to the top of the waiting list for low-income housing. If approved at the June 19 meeting, it would take effect immediately.
Paducah Cooperative Ministry officials say they appreciate the effort, but they have people who need help immediately. Ministry Director Heidi Suhrheinrich said the process of getting on a waiting list for low-income housing can take weeks or months.
“We appreciate that Mr. Ross sees the urgency, but we don’t see that as a solution at this point,” she said. “We’re putting these folks at risk (by closing).”
Homeless housing and case manager Candace Melloy says the loss of the program in Paducah could mean referring woman to facilities as far away as Louisville for help.
She said 11 single women and 13 mothers with children have been turned away since the organization got the notice.
The next closest shelter for single women with children is in Mayfield, but that is usually full. She says women could be sent as far as Louisville for help if the Paducah shelter closes.
Suhrheinrich said a local shelter is needed.
“It doesn’t have to be Paducah Cooperative Ministry that provides shelter, but someone needs to,” she said.
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Information from: The Paducah Sun, https://www.paducahsun.com
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