What happened
The council appropriated a $2,500 Duke Energy grant to help fund this winter's homeless warming center, run by Mental Health America at the Lotus Center. Human Relations Commission Director A.T. Ryan told the council the city had already asked the county council this week to reimburse the city $15,001 for the same program, on top of $30,000 the city had already committed. The center was open 37 nights this year at $1,200 a night — $44,400 spent — bringing the total warming-center budget to about $47,500 once the $2,500, $15,001, and $30,000 are combined.
Who it affects
Residents experiencing homelessness who rely on the warming center to get out of the cold, and taxpayers covering the roughly $47,500 total cost this winter.
The outcome
Sources
- A.T. Ryan presents Appropriation 6, 2026, 43:29
- The city's pending $15,001 county reimbursement request, 44:01
- Warming center cost breakdown — 37 nights, $44,400 spent, $47,500 total budget, 44:34
- Motion and vote, 46:09
Also known as: warming center funding · Appropriation 6, 2026 · Lotus Center warming shelter · Mental Health America warming center · homeless shelter funding Terre Haute · warming shelter budget