ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Central Washington College has reached a two-year working settlement with the Utilized Folks Providing Yr-Spherical Outreach meals and clothes financial institution that operates on its campus.
In January, the college determined to not renew its lease with APOYO and gave the meals financial institution till June to discover a new location, permitting CWU to demolish their constructing, which is growing older and in a lot want of repairs.
“It was a sudden, troublesome factor for everybody to take care of, however everybody rallied round and we have been truly capable of solidify a few of {our relationships} with individuals on campus, which was a blessing in disguise,” mentioned Stefanie Wickstrom, Govt Director for APOYO.
With the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing, APOYO was unable to search out one other location and negotiated with the college to stay on the location, with a purpose to proceed offering meals, clothes, outreach and family necessities for Latinx neighborhood members, CWU college students and different native residents in want.
“The college and APOYO have a relationship of greater than twenty years,” mentioned Delores Cleary, CWU Vice President of Inclusivity and Variety, in a information launch. “This memorandum of understanding permits APOYO to proceed being housed on campus till it could possibly discover a everlasting residence.”
Underneath the settlement, APOYO will be capable to keep within the constructing — till October 2022 — whereas they discover a new facility, which will even function a multicultural neighborhood and studying middle, Wickstrom mentioned.
Wickstrom mentioned the meals financial institution will proceed its present partnership with CWU, which incorporates offering educational companies and alternatives for college students and college in trade for on-campus house to function.
Whereas the meals financial institution stays on campus, the college pays for utilities and as much as $20,000 for facility repairs, which will likely be matched by a $5,000 contribution from APOYO, the discharge mentioned.
“We expect this a good settlement for all events,” Cleary mentioned. “Whereas we can make short-term repairs to the constructing, it’s not a long-term resolution.”
CWU officers mentioned the college plans to demolish the constructing on the finish of the settlement.
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