By: Diane Benjamin
Continuation of this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/08/09/foia-report-part-1/
The City of Bloomington redacted emails written by aldermen and the City Manager in response to a HUGE problem. Didn’t they realize nothing prevents the person who received those emails from giving them to me?
The story concerns a local non-profit called Recycling Furniture for Families. This organization began years ago when a policeman saw a need with displaced people, like domestic violence victims. The fleeing members of the family could have a place to live but be sleeping on the floor.
The group had been receiving $3000 a month from the City of Bloomington via HUD grants. I know as of January 2024 they hadn’t received any money for 8 months, that situation hasn’t changed. Another email I have claims they have helped 10,000 families since 2002. The problems started when administration of Continuum of Care grants was transferred to PATH. This is the same PATH that lost handling Suicide Prevention calls because grant paperwork wasn’t filed on time. This story has more details: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-04-22/path-will-lay-off-dozens-after-losing-the-statewide-988-call-center-contract
PATH is not giving money to Recycling Furniture for Families because they also bungled the grant that provides the money. By redacting emails the City was trying to hide that fact. The Executive Director contacted me because he is desperate and getting few answers.
I’m copying 2 emails to make them easier to read than a picture. Frank Downes, Executive Director, had been emailing Cody Hendricks and Donna Boelen. He finally got this email on June 13th from Jeff Jurgens – it was redacted in my FOIA:
From: Jeff Jurgens [mailto:jjurgens@cityblm.org]
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2024 11:26 AM
To: director@rf4f.org
Cc: Cody Hendricks; Billy Tyus; Melissa Hon; Cecilia Reichert
Subject: Continuum of Care
Frank,
I wanted to reach out and let you know that Council Member Hendricks shared the concerns and issues you are facing with PATH. The City is likewise concerned and while the Continuum of Care is not within our control, we are working with other community partners to ensure the issues get addressed. In fact, we had a meeting already set up on this for tomorrow. In addition, we are looking into whether anything can be done about the lost funding opportunities. I’m not overly optimistic that something can be done, but I don’t want to leave any stone unturned on it.
Unfortunately, I do not have better news I can share at this time, beyond that we are trying to get the right people in the room to ensure this gets addressed as soon as possible.
If you have other questions or want to talk directly about this, I’d be happy to meet with you. Just let me know.
Thank you!
This email is in response, William Bessler is the Grants Manager for the City of Bloomington. I underlined part for emphasis.
From: director@rf4f.org [mailto:director@rf4f.org]
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2024 12:03 PM
To: ‘Jeff Jurgens’; Cheris Larson
Cc: ‘Cody Hendricks’; ‘Billy Tyus’; ‘Melissa Hon’; ‘Cecilia Reichert’
Subject: RE: Continuum of Care
Jeff,
Thanks for your response. What I do not understand is that when the City of Bloomington was involved with this process everything was working fine. When the City of Bloomington exited the process it got broken immediately. We had no transparency or warning that this may happen. When I asked William Bessler why this happened he told me that HUD had instructed the City of Bloomington to transfer the monthly documentation collection, draw distribution, sub recipient agreements process, everything the City of Bloomington related to this grant did to PATH. I just need more clarity how that happened and why were not given any warning that by doing this we had risk of losing our funding. The City of Bloomington was in contact with PATH and was aware of the management issues they were having. William Bessler told me in an email in January 2024 (email attached) when we didn’t even see the agreement yet or $ 1 of funding, he said that that they were aware of the issues at PATH and he was in regular meetings with HUD. And here we are. We have not received over $ 70,000 of funding and there is nothing we can do. I kept asking questions to PATH and didn’t receive a response or received inaccurate information. Others questions: Did HUD not care what was going on ? Who are the community leaders meeting on this issue ? Shouldn’t we get invited or informed of these meetings since we are stakeholders ?
Respectfully,
Frank Downes
Executive Director
Recycling Furniture for Families
I have a lot more information! Stay Tuned.
$70,000?? Wow! That’s a lot of used sofas. This is US taxpayers’ money. All of these mini-bureaucracies. How much does Frank get paid a year?
No idea, I haven’t located a tax return for them yet.
Every one needs to know what a great service that recycling furniture for families provides to those in need in the community.
I volunteered and drove a truck for several years at recycling where we picked up donated furniture and then delivered furniture to those that had come to the warehouse and picked out needed furniture most of whom were single mothers needing beds,tables, couches and miscellaneous household items.
Recycling furniture for families needs to be supported 100%. They are the real deal!