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A MAJOR RISK TO THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY. THAT’S HOW THE CEO OF CENTRAL IOWA SHELTER AND SERVICES DESCRIBES THE CHANGES COMING TO THE DOWNTOWN SHELTER. SHE SAYS IT WILL SOON BE FORCED TO SCALE BACK SERVICES BECAUSE OF BUDGET CONSTRAINTS. ����vlog MARCUS MCINTOSH IS LIVE WITH WHAT THIS MEANS FOR SOME OF DES MOINES MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. STACY AND BEN. WHAT WON’T CHANGE IS CENTRAL IOWA SHELTER AND SERVICES ULTIMATE GOAL OF PROVIDING SHELTER, MEALS AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO ADULTS WHO ARE HOMELESS. HOW IT MEETS THAT GOAL? WELL, THAT’S ANOTHER STORY. CHANGE IS IN THE AIR AT CENTRAL IOWA SHELTER AND SERVICES ON MULBERRY IN DOWNTOWN DES MOINES. CHANGE THAT BOILS DOWN TO DOLLARS AND CENTS. WE LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL POSITION AND OUR CASH FLOW PROJECTIONS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, AND OBVIOUSLY WE USE A LOT OF THOSE NUMBERS TO START BUDGETING, EVEN FOR OUR FY 26. AND IT WAS IN THIS YEAR’S REVIEW THAT WE HAD SEVERAL RED FLAGS. SO WITH AN ALREADY TIGHT BUDGET AND OPERATING AT AN OVERFLOW FOR THE LAST DECADE, THE SHELTER MADE THE DECISION TO CAP EMERGENCY BEDS AT 150. THAT’S WHAT THIS BUILDING IS DESIGNED FOR. THAT’S WHAT IT WAS CREATED FOR BACK WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PUT THE BEDS IN PLACE. SIS ALSO REDUCING ITS HOURS FOR SERVICE TO 8 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. AND LIMITING ITS THREE MEALS A DAY SERVICE TO ONLY SHELTER RESIDENTS AND THOSE INVOLVED IN THE VETERANS PROGRAM. ����vlog TOLD YOU LAST MONTH THE SHELTER IS ALSO REMOVING ITS WEATHER AMNESTY POLICY, WHICH ALLOWED ANYONE INTO THE BUILDING DURING TIMES OF EXTREME HEAT OR COLD. THE CHANGES ARE A DONE DEAL, BUT WHEN THE CHANGES COULD TAKE EFFECT IS STILL UP IN THE AIR. WE WILL TRY AND LOCK IN THAT DATE SOONER THAN LATER, AND I DO ANTICIPATE IT WILL COME SOMETIME IN APRIL. O’NEIL SAYS THE DECISIONS WERE NOT EASY. SHE SAYS THE CHANGES ARE NECESSARY TO KEEP OPERATING, BUT COULD PROVE COSTLY IN OTHER WAYS. FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS A MAJOR RISK, AND I DO HOPE THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER IN THE NEXT NINE MONTHS TO BRING SOLUTIONS TO THE TABLE FOR PEOPLE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE FOOD PANTRY, COMMUNITY CLOSET AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED AT SIS BEHIND ME. WE’RE LIVE IN DES MOINES. I’