October 17, 2008

By Sanne Specht
Mail Tribune

A homeless teen shelter in downtown Medford is one step closer to reality after the City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to release more than $200,000 in promised community block grant money to Hearts with a Mission.

Kevin Lamson, founder and president, has said the proposed shelter will provide boys and girls age 10 to 17 with a secure environment for 72 hours and link them with other service agencies.

Lamson's organization will use the federal funds to purchase and renovate a house on Edwards Street. Once it's developed and licensed as a residential care facility, the shelter would be eligible to receive funding through contracts with Jackson County Department of Human Services, Lamson said.

"This is a real answer to a prayer — to a lot of prayers," said Lamson.

The council voted unanimously May 2 to give $202,800 in community block grant funds to Hearts with a Mission. But concerns about the nonprofit group's fledgling status and questions regarding its business plan delayed release of the funds. Councilman Bob Strosser and other members said in September they would prefer the new nonprofit had its business plan worked out in detail. Strosser is out of town and did not attend Thursday's meeting.

At a workshop earlier this month, the council reviewed the organization's business plan and clarified its understanding of the contract, which states the Edwards Street property will be held as collateral for the grant should Hearts with a Mission fail.

Councilwoman Jill Stout is on the organization's board of directors. Hearts with a Mission had raised more than $65,000 at its first fundraiser, Stout said.

At Thursday's council meeting, Jim Akery, project coordinator for R.A. Murphy Construction, said his company would be donating its services to "help make it happen."

Akery said he would begin designing the shelter immediately.

"This is a real simple thing to get onboard with — helping homeless teens," said Akery.

Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail sspecht@mailtribune.com.