City addresses upcoming transition at Gateway Homeless Shelter for Men

Nov. 21, 2024

City addresses upcoming transition at Gateway Homeless Shelter for Men

The City of Dayton was officially notified this week by St. Vincent de Paul that its board has decided to stop operating the Gateway Homeless Shelter for Men, effective June 30, 2025. The shelter is located at 1921 S. Gettysburg Ave.

"I am deeply disappointed with St. Vincent de Paul's decision to no longer operate at the Gateway Homeless Shelter for Men," said Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims, Jr. "The City will work diligently with all partners to ensure a seamless transition and uninterrupted services for the men who depend on this shelter. Our commitment to supporting vulnerable populations remains steadfast, as ensuring the well-being and stability of our community is our top priority."

Over the past several months, the City of Dayton has collaborated with Montgomery County and St. Vincent de Paul leadership to identify potential solutions to prevent this decision. Neither the City nor the County has reduced funding for shelter operations. From 2016-2024, the City provided over $3 million dollars of its emergency shelter grant to St. Vincent de Paul and an additional $3 million of its one time federal COVID relief fund for addressing homelessness. The City also offered to bring in independent consultants to review the current funding structure and program model to explore alternative options.

"The City of Dayton is unwavering in its commitment to providing emergency shelter services 24/7, 365 days a year," said Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein. "We are working closely with Montgomery County and the Dayton-Kettering-Montgomery County Continuum of Care to ensure a smooth transition between providers at the Gateway Homeless Shelter for Men, with no interruption in services for those who depend on this critical support. Additionally, there will be no changes in services or providers at the Women and Families Shelter."

The City of Dayton owns the Gateway Homeless Shelter for Men property and has leased the facility to County Corp since 2009. County Corp subsequently subleases the space to St. Vincent de Paul for shelter operations. This leasing arrangement will continue with a new provider, to be selected through an open and competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process.