Plymouth Council tables $25,000 request for Housing Crisis Response Team

The Plymouth City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to table a $25,000 funding request from the Marshall County SAFE Housing Response Team, citing a need to determine the source of funds before committing to the program.

The decision came after team representatives presented their plan to address multi-family housing displacement crises affecting Marshall County residents.

Linda Yoder, Executive Director of United Way of Marshall County, told the council that at least three well-publicized incidents have occurred in the past 15 months where individuals and families had only hours to a few days to vacate their residences.

Yoder noted that 28% of the county's population are ALICE families—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. She explained that low wages, seasonal employment, and lack of transportation have driven families into unsafe housing conditions. Additional barriers keeping families in these situations include poor credit, past evictions, and a lack of savings.

Mayor Robert Listenberger explained that the new program would provide immediate shelter and stability through the first month, potentially extending into the second month. Recipients would understand that support is time-limited.

"The SAFE Housing Response Team isn't just about shelter, it's about dignity, opportunity, and resilience," Listenberger said. "The volunteers will have the assurance that when the next multi-family displacement occurs, and it will, we will have more than goodwill, we will have a plan."

The team's goal is to raise $150,000. The Marshall County Council has already approved $25,000. The Plymouth request of $25,000 would represent one-third of their fundraising goal.

United Way is contributing funds from the Blueberry Half Pot, and the team plans to approach other county municipalities for support.

Mayor Listenberger proposed using the city's Opioid Unrestricted Funds to cover the request. The city clerk noted that those funds are already earmarked for a new police K9, though the mayor expressed confidence that both initiatives could be funded.

Councilman Don Ecker voiced support, noting the council's recent aggressive action against unsafe buildings and negligent landlords. "We knew when we made these decisions as a council, we were disrupting some folks living in those unsafe conditions," he said.

Councilman Randy Longanecker questioned the backup plan if the $150,000 goal isn't met. Yoder responded that they would continue fundraising.

Longanecker also expressed frustration with Plymouth consistently bearing financial responsibility for county-wide issues. "Plymouth or the county are always the first ones to get the bucket in front of them," he said. "Time and time again, we always hear it's a county issue, but it comes to Plymouth."

Councilman Dave Morrow initially moved to approve the funding, seconded by Ecker. However, Councilwoman Kayla Krathwohl then moved to table the request until the council determines the funding source, with Longanecker seconding.

The motion to table passed 4-3:

Voting to table: Duane Culp, Kayla Krathwohl, Randy Longanecker, and Linda Starr

Voting against tabling: Don Ecker, Shiloh Milner, and Dave Morrow

The matter will be returned to the council once funding sources are clarified.