On Jan. 3, Carrie Gatlin, vice president of government relations for the rescue mission, said the shelter might shut down two weeks earlier than its planned March 15 closing because of the lack of funds.
But Gatlin said Friday the rescue mission was bound by a contract to stay open until March 15 and would not “immediately shut down.”
Word of the deficit did not filter to the council until weeks after the shelter was allowed, unnerving some officials who say the rescue mission should have broached the funding issue when the shelter was originally given the green light.
“That was thrown in our face in the last minute,” Councilman Gary Bric said. “It was our understanding that we would supply the armory and [shoulder] the additional burden for police and fire.
“There was no notice [at the Dec. 4 council meeting], no indication they needed money.”
Rescue mission officials were confident Glendale and Burbank would cover the monetary deficit and were encouraged when Councilman Dave Golonski recommended giving $20,000, with a suggested match from Glendale, for homeless services at the Dec. 4 meeting.
Burbank contributed $10,000 Dec. 15. However, the funds Golonski suggested were never intended to pay for day-to-day operations at the Burbank shelter, he said.
“That money was for services above and beyond the basics provided at the shelter,” he said. “I had no idea there was a deficit. I thought the basic things were covered.”
City Manager Mary Alvord echoed that sentiment.
“That money originally was not for the shelter, but for services beyond the shelter,” she said. “The council never believed there was an operating deficit. We were guaranteed the shelter would stay open. We feel a little misled.”
