Three Oaks Center in Lexington Park
Lexington Park, MD — The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County have unanimously approved applying for a grant to expand homeless services in the county. But the approval received Tuesday, Oct. 6 came only after reservations about the grant were expressed by two of the commissioners.
The $206,460 request for a federal Community Development Block Grant is expected to be approved in the next month at which time a 60-day comment period kicks in for state agencies to reply. The commissioners were told by Department of Economic and Community Development Deputy Director Robin Finnacom that no work can be done until those approvals are in place.
The monies will be used to place a modular unit next to the existing Three Oaks Center shelter on Lei Drive. In that new unit, services would be provided to homeless veterans, a staging area set up for the homeless shelters provided by local churches through the Wrapping Arms ‘Round Many (WARM) program, and a six-bed emergency shelter.
Commissioner Mike Hewitt [R – 2nd District] expressed concern that the mobile unit could not be up and running until after the need had ended to house the homeless in cold weather. “It is being pushed as a crisis for cold months and we won’t have it,” he said.
Hewitt and Commissioner John O’Connor [R – 3rd District] also questioned what they perceived as a ten-year commitment by the county for more than a million dollars for the continuance of the program. The commissioners were assured by Finnacom that the commitment only extended for one year and additional monies would have to be budgeted each year and approved by the commissioners
”We will do the best we can in the meantime. I need something as soon as possible. I think this is the best solution for now,” said Three Oak Center Executive Director Lanny Lancaster.
Lancaster said it was the veterans’ services that would be delayed until the new facility is opened. Funding for that service is also being provided by Booz Allen Hamilton and NDTI. The center will also be used to “provide classes, training and mentoring opportunities” according to Lancaster.
Commissioner Tom Jarboe [R – 1st District] noted that the business community had stepped to the plate in getting the new program up and running. He also said that there were no spare relocatable classrooms available from the school system, so everything had been done that could be done until all of the approvals are in.
The motion to support the grant was made by Commissioner Todd Morgan [R – 4th District] and everyone else went along with it.
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com