First City Sunrise, a Vincennes nonprofit addressing homelessness, shared its annual impact and new initiatives with the Vincennes City Council Monday night.
The organization spent nearly $7,000 this year to provide hotel stays for 146 households, supporting 275 individuals, including 68 children, 171 adults, and 11 seniors.
A new emergency shelter now offers overnight assistance from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Dr. Caroline Steinman, the group’s president, said the shelter serves 8 to 15 people each night and has already helped three veterans and facilitated two individuals finding jobs. Families in crisis continue to receive hotel accommodations.
The shelter requires referrals, background checks, and adherence to rules, including weekly case management. Staffed by volunteers, it focuses on life skills, community service, and pathways to stable housing. Dr. Steinman noted the importance of community involvement and expressed hope for lasting progress in addressing local homelessness.
For more information on First City Sunrise go to https://www.firstcitysunrise.org/ or look for First City Sunrise on social media.
In other matters from the meeting, the Vincennes City Council has approved a $33,800 transfer for the police department.
Chief Jon Hillenbrand requested the funds to replace malfunctioning rifles purchased years ago from a now-defunct company. The department plans to buy new SIG rifles and offset costs by selling the old ones, with total rifle expenses nearing $75,000.
The council also discussed transferring $53,000 in unspent funds for a delayed software project to a non-reverting account, ensuring money will be available when the system is ready in 2025. A final decision on that transfer is expected at the next meeting.
