Aurora City Government to Directly Operate Winter Warming Center, Increasing Budget by 15%
The city of Aurora, Illinois, will directly manage its winter warming center for the upcoming season, a shift from its previous model of contracting with non-profit organizations. This change involves the city hiring and paying staff directly, including a manager, six leads, and twelve aides, along with paid security and volunteers. The warming center, located at 712 S. River St., will operate from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. when temperatures are at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for at least six hours. This new operational model comes with a 15% budget increase, raising the cost to just over $150,000, compared to the $135,000 paid to Becoming Oswego church last year. According to Nicole Mullins, Aurora’s chief community services officer, the increased budget accounts for an assumed 90 days of operation with an average of 30 guests daily. The city aims to enhance adherence to established protocols, documentation, fiscal controls, and accountability, which were challenging with previous non-profit contractors. Advoca...
