Warming Centers - City of Fort Smith
Volunteers Needed for the Annual Point in Time Count
Honor and Duty 5K June 4, 2022
Southern Nights Fundraiser
Sharon Chapman, New Executive Director
Next Step Dayroom will keep the federal grant award of $77,194 recommended to it by the Fort Smith Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) after the city’s Board of Directors decided not to hold the recommended funds in contingency.
The 501(c)(3), which provides services and transitional housing to the area’s homeless population, found out from a March 27 study session it was in danger of losing funding when some Board members questioned why it would not relocate its 6th Street location to facilitate downtown redevelopment.
At Tuesday’s (April 3) Board meeting, Next Step Board President Sharon Chapman spoke on the perceived unwillingness of the nonprofit to “play ball” with downtown efforts alluded to by Director Keith Lau and Mayor Sandy Sanders. Lau said on Tuesday the refusal was “impeding the progress of the growth of the city of Fort Smith and the redevelopment of downtown as it’s spelled out in the comprehensive plan.”
*This news story was originally posted on talkbusiness.net.
