Pontiac nonprofit HOPE Shelters’ website snafu disrupts fundraising

Possession of the web site of a Pontiac-based homeless shelter is within the palms of a disgruntled former worker. At a vital time for the shabby group that depends closely on donations, the volunteer chief mentioned.

Final week, HOPE Shelters was notified that it was time to pay renewal charges for the area, however hit a significant hurdle: The nonprofit was not listed because the proprietor, interim director Elizabeth Kelly informed the Free Press on Thursday, Nov. 6. She contacted the individual, a former worker who, because the proprietor, had supplied his private info throughout a web site rebrand and paid for it.

She requested the one who was fired to work with the group emigrate possession, and supplied to reimburse him for a site price. That individual then despatched an e-mail to the nonprofit’s board of administrators and Kelly, itemizing his grievances and likewise indicating that he needed to promote the positioning again. The individual claimed they’d a $30,000 provide for the area, she mentioned. Kelly declined to call the previous worker, citing an ongoing investigation. The nonprofit has filed a police report with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Workplace, she mentioned.

The state of affairs is impacting the nonprofit’s potential to lift funds, she mentioned, in an already troublesome fundraising atmosphere.

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“One of many important fundraising sources that we refer individuals to is our web site, and that is down. We’re so distracted with attempting to ensure we put issues in place to stop additional injury that we’re not in a position to do the fundraising that we’d have performed earlier than,” she mentioned.

The web site can be how individuals get info, together with the place to search out shelter, at a time when temperatures are dropping.

HOPE Shelters has two buildings in Pontiac: a year-round emergency and restoration shelter for adults. The restoration shelter, a smaller and extra personal facility with some medical help, is meant for many who are discharged from the hospital however don’t have any house to go to. As a low-barrier shelter, the group takes individuals as they’re and doesn’t require ID, background checks or sobriety, though the nonprofit helps individuals acquire important paperwork. Each shelters — situated in “floor zero” for opioid use in Oakland County, which has a excessive poverty charge, in accordance with Kelly — are full.

“We’re at full capability all 12 months spherical. Proper now, homelessness is on the rise,” she mentioned.

The nonprofit beforehand didn’t have entry to funds donated by way of the web site, however by Thursday night the block on donations on the web site had been lifted, Kelly mentioned. Nonetheless, HOPE Shelters nonetheless has no possession or management of the protect itself, she mentioned.

“We’re getting into the a part of the 12 months the place we’re actually depending on fundraising as a result of solely 44% of our price range is roofed by authorities contracts,” she mentioned. The remainder comes from donations and basis grants.

HOPE Shelters runs 24 hours a day, day by day of the 12 months, with a small workers and an annual price range of simply over $1 million for the 2 buildings.

The web site challenge – which Kelly characterised as “an assault on a small group that strives to take care of essentially the most susceptible individuals” – has taken away workers time from regular actions comparable to fundraising and winter preparation. The nonprofit doesn’t have devoted IT workers.

HOPE shelters has a separate site for its “meal hosts” – teams that plan, buy and cook dinner meals for shelter company.

Attain reporter Nushrat Rahman at nrahman@freepress.com