By Stephen Nelson
With Mayor Chris Curtis out of town, the Kankakee City Council at their Monday, March 6, meeting delayed any action on restoring funds given to the city by the federal government to help fund the operation of a homeless shelter by Fortitude Outreach.
Four weeks ago, the council voted to remove the group’s funding based on complaints police work was being interfered with at the shelter, in addition to panhandling by the homeless outside downtown Kankakee businesses. Fifth Ward Alderman Lance Marzak was among those voting to withhold the funds. He admits, “There is a need for the shelter,” but he also expressed concern about reports police activity at the facility was being interfered with.
Even if the funding isn’t approved later this month by the city council, Fortitude’s director says it won’t interfere with their plans to build a new shelter at a location outside the immediate downtown area on South Washington Avenue. The shelter currently operates out of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, just across the street from where the Farmer’s Market operates in the summer months.