MANSFIELD — Miles Parsons gave a slight nod from his seat Tuesday after a generous legislative decision was made by Mansfield City Council.
And now the American Rescue Plan Act clock is ticking.
The executive director for Wayfinders, Parsons presented Nov. 6 a plan to local lawmakers to relocate and find a larger space for the homeless shelter formerly known as Harmony House.
Council approved on Tuesday a request from Mayor Jodie Perry to award $500,000 from its $600,000 in remaining ARPA funds to help facilitate the move to 661 Park Ave. East from its current 124 W. Third St. location.
Parsons, hired in February to lead the 34-year-old homeless organization, has said Wayfinders will sell its current building if the move is made, which could open up property on the edge of the Imagination District.
In order to proceed, Wayfinders must purchase the new site from the Richland County Land Bank and also receive financial assistance from the Richland County Board of Commissioners to help renovate the former medical offices building currently on site.
ARPA requirements state project must finish by end of 2026
The possible new site is roughly 12,500 square-feet and is located next to the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
Wayfinders served more than 600 clients in 2023 and may eclipse 700 in 2024, Parsons previously reported.
Parsons said projected costs range between $2.1 and $2.6 million to renovate the former medical offices. The organization’s current site has a capacity of 58 people and the new site could serve up to 90 clients at one time in a better designed facility — with potential for future expansion.
In order to meet ARPA requirements, the project must be complete by the end of 2026.
Parsons has said he is comfortable the organization will meet this timeline.
While voting in favor of awarding the ARPA funds, At-large Councilman David Falquette said if something were to go wrong with the project, council needs to know in December.
“I’m kind of reading in between the lines that things are very positively moving forward and that (if) we approve this tonight, that should help move this project forward,” he said.
Council’s decision encouraging to private funders
Parsons had obtained $250,000 in state capital funds, according to previous Richland Source reporting, and is working toward additional assistance from the Richland County Foundation and the Milliron Foundation.
He said he signed an agreement Tuesday morning with a community partner who is willing to match City Council’s $500,000 investment — which was contingent on its decision Tuesday night.
“I think since he (Parsons) was here last, they’ve received some positive news from private funders that our involvement … encourages them to invest in the project as well,” Perry said prior to Tuesday’s vote.
“It seems like the optimism he shared at the last meeting is kind of coming to fruition.”
The city’s award will take the form of a subgrant agreement with Wayfinders.
Perry said if for some reason Wayfinders got into the project and realized they couldn’t complete it, there’s potential recourse the city could pursue.
“There is a little bit of a gap there that (the U.S. Treasury Dept.) has sort of put on the table … them not being able to do the project would hit that guideline,” the mayor said.
“That made me feel slightly more comfortable, though I believe fully in the fact that this quickly they’ve been able to put it together and are getting some things like that. I believe this project will still go forward,” Perry said.
(Below is a PDF with a presentation made Nov. 6 to Mansfield City Council and the Richland County Land Bank by Miles Parson, executive director of Wayfinders.)