City Council member concerned with budget cut to homeless advocate position
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – A Fort Wayne City Council member is upset after a vote held on Tuesday night’s City Council meeting cut money for a full-time homeless advocate position.
The original budget for the position was slightly over $110,000. After the cut, it is $76,000.
According to Councilwoman at-large, Michelle Chambers, this is not enough to fund it.
“For me, to make cut for such a critical position, I don’t think that was well thought out because, essentially, that money is going to go back into the general fund,” says Chambers. “It’s not like those dollars could’ve been directed to another position or served any purpose.”
The city of Fort Wayne has had a homeless advocate position in the past, but it was never a full-time dedicated position.
“For our city not to have an advocate that’s working with the schools, working with other non-profits, that’s not a good reflection of good city management of our resources and our city as a whole,” says Chambers.
According to Councilwoman Chambers, she says it is time to “rip the band-aid off”. She says she wants the city to accept and handle the issue now rather than later.
Chambers also says even though she was disappointed with that decision, there are still very good things happening in Fort Wayne, including Mayor Sharon Tucker’s first budget being balanced.
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