The Plumb Place Steering Committee continues its work to restore services for women in crisis.
The committee formed quickly after Plumb Place ended 99 years of history by closing its doors at the end of 2020. United Way Director Mickey Edwards said the Plumb Place Steering Committee is doing its best to get some services in place as soon as possible. The committee is considering some grant funding for immediate needs, but it’s also looking long term. The ultimate goal is to create an agency that can handle what Plumb Place provided, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, case management, counseling and job services — and not just for women in crisis.
The steering committee currently includes representatives of Bloom House, Corner House, CrossWinds Counseling and Wellness, Kansas Legal Services, SOS and other community representatives. It is working with Kevin Flott, who was appointed as receiver by Lyon County District Court. Edwards says the committee is waiting for the official dissolution of Plumb Place and word from the court on how the building at 224 East Sixth can be used — or whether it will be used. Part of the deed allows for the building to be sold if proceeds benefit women in crisis, and the steering committee has recommended that step with proceeds benefiting an agency to be named later.
Plumb Place had modest fundraising success last year before coronavirus canceled all fundraising activities and subsequent grant requests were declined. However, financial issues had been in place for several years. Emporia Police announced an investigation into over $50,000 in missing funds dating from 2014 to mid-2017. Issues continued after the United Way briefly suspended funding in 2018 and eventually ended a better than 70-year partnership with Plumb Place in 2019.
