ROCKLAND — In its second winter in existence, the Emergency Warming Center in Rockland saw five times the usage in comparison to its inaugural year, partly because it was open three times more often and more people were learning of the shelter’s existence. The volunteer organizers are elated by the increase in numbers walking through the doors on the coldest nights. But, in the face of some issues, such as a need to relocate, along with two years of working for free, and the constant burden of fundraising, manager Luca Mellon is ready for the project to be maintained under financially stable, and better supported, conditions.

Rockland City Council heard from Mellon and what the EWC refers to as a “pipe dream” proposal, Monday, April 7. Council members agreed that the proposal requests were valid and far from a pipe dream. However, Mellon’s overall request of being absorbed into a City department, and therefore to be relieved of the financial responsibilities, were heard but not overly embraced as the City enters into Budget Season.

For next winter, Mellon is asking for paid shifts for two people, plus a manager, for the 90 nights that many community members hope will be a new reality. For this, an estimated cost of $54,000 has been presented, along with another $6,400 for miscellaneous items such as laundry and training. Mellon reiterated that zero to $60,000 was a large span and any help would be accepted.

The volunteers have been great, according to Mellon, and others have been turned away for lack of EWC-required training. However, without the commitment that comes with financial compensation, volunteers tend to “plug in and plug out,” said Melon.

Mellon is asking for more integration into City government in the form of having a desk where EWC members can do paperwork, have access to printing, have a City email address, an easy way to see how much money is in their bank account, clarity on how the manager or assistant manager can access and use their own funds, a copy of the directory of City employees, and assistance with grant writing.

Councilor Adam Lachman stated support for the organization’s mission and allowed that Rockland issues are City issues. Yet, he also places the burden at a regional level and wants to see financial support coming from other towns who are utilizing the EWC as well as from the County. In the same strain, Lachman wants to see a matching private/public partnership where other nonprofits and private donors share the physical and financial burdens.

Mayor Penny York suggested that the EWC become a 501c3 so that major employers, such as her own, would be able to donate large checks. Despite York saying that her employer would have given them $500 had EWC been a nonprofit, Mellon said that the road to 501c3 is a three-year process, and that the random checks don’t eliminate the need to fund raise, the hours of unpaid work, or stable support.

The location

“The Flanagan Center (Rec Center) is big,” said Mellon. “It has showers and all of that, but we’re a burden on the director. He has to set up special things for us for the gym. It can’t stay up, so we have to tear down every morning. And reset up every night, even when there are consecutive nights. And that’s a lot of time and wear and tear on your body.”

Mellon said the overlap hasn’t completely made sense. They are welcoming guests either too late in the evening or they are welcoming guests and telling them to wait with staff in the bleachers and watch the basketball game.

EWC has considered the Community Room at the library, but some library staff have expressed concerns despite the fact that the EWC hasn’t had any incidents of any sorts.

“There been challenges, but we’ve never had to call law enforcement for backup,” said Mellon. “We’ve never had to kick anyone out. We haven’t had any overdoses in the space.

“I’m pretty proud of that. I think that’s because we trained everyone up really good and have a lot of support within our project.

“We kind of created something from scratch that didn’t exist before, so I think that’s quite an accomplishment as well."

EWC has reached out to two churches and the AIO as potential new locations. All have said no. Insurance is a must for shelters. EWC is covered under the City, but that coverage does not extend to private buildings.

In terms of not having showers, Luca responds, “A reliable space is more important than a shower. They do need to be ADA wheelchair accessible, and have bathrooms. That’s not negotiable. Without those things, it won’t make sense. But I don’t think we need showers as long as we have showers available at the Rec,” Mellon continued. “We can hold space without a shower and direct people to a towel, hygiene items, and say the Rec opens at 12, so if you can find another place to hang out for the next couple of hours, you can take a shower at noon.”

Philosophical or public duty?

As Council weighs the EWC’s proposal, Councilor Nate Davis suggested that Council consider some recent expenditures.

“I’m thinking about the amount of money that we invested in the lighthouse, for example, which was $300,000,” he said. “So, a $300,000 lighthouse expenditure is a lot of money that affected a lot of people very lightly and enhanced their experience of Rockland and Rockland’s reputation in the world in a relatively small way, but very wide spread. A way to think about this is that it’s a much smaller amount of money that would affect a much smaller group of people, but much more intensely. And, I think as we move through the process of determining the value of this and ultimately it is a financial value, we would have to determine if we support it. I think it’s worth considering in light of any other expenditures and the scale and depth of their impact.”

Lachman said the example of the lighthouse is a valid one, “but I do think, whether it’s a lighthouse or whether it’s a warming center, relying on the City alone is a difficult position to put the City in. We need to be able, for the City, to take a leadership role, but also harness the benefits that it provides to the region. Hence, trying to get other towns to take that step with us. And also, harnessing the capability of private donation.”

Penny York added another expenditure example. Rockland District Nursing Association was added as a City department and has a line item of $30,000. RDNA continues to fund raise privately.

Regardless, the need for shelter remains.

Mellon receives a lot of calls from people asking for shelter on the nights that the EWC is not open. The response is “I’m sorry. There’s not much I can do.”

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com