Daytona Beach, FL - While construction continues to progress at the First Step Shelter, most Board members believe the completion date of October 2 is overly optimistic. Chase Tramont, who is also a member of the Port Orange City Council, took a tour through the building last week. He said he is not in the construction business and he'd prefer to be wrong about the completion date. He also said that he does not see how the building can be completed during the five weeks left by the city of Daytona Beach's projected completion date.
The Safe Zone for the shelter has been an ongoing point of contention since the First Step Shelter Board convened for the first time. Tramont is adamant, as are some other Board members, that he does not want the Safe Zone inside the building. He says the Safe Zone was promised to the cities who are in partnership with the Shelter. "We need to do the best we can to accommodate it on our property, somehow, some way." The city of Daytona Beach has reserved the right to approve or disapprove where the Board would like the Safe Zone located. Tramont says it would be bad faith and bad business to not have a Safe Zone at the Shelter.
The other major issue is the Intake Policy. Tramont said that he spoke to a woman from HUD who explained that if Shelter residents only came in through local police department referrals, the Shelter could lose eligibility for grant money that they could otherwise be eligible for. One of the Shelter's goals is to prepare its residents for living on their own. Accepting referrals from HUD, the Volusia County Public Housing Authority and the Housing Authorities in several Volusia County cities could bring grant money in for operating expenses.
Tramont said while there are still issues to work out, some other matters have been resolved. The city of Daytona Beach is going to purchase kitchen equipment and have it installed and Catholic Charities now has an amended budget that will enable them to purchase furniture, fixtures and other equipment needed for the facility.
Candidates for the Executive Director position have been narrowed down and Tramont expects the Board will begin the interviewing process in the very near future. The next Board meeting has not been scheduled at this time due to the Labor Day holiday next Monday but Tramont says there will be another meeting very soon.
