The Community Development Division is requesting approval to accept a $5,000 donation from First Interstate Bank to support a Billings Metro VISTA Project initiative - Project Homelessness. Since July 2012, two AmeriCorps VISTA members have been interviewing homeless children and young adults about their challenges and triumphs. Those interviews were given to two local playwrights to create a script about the realities of being young and homeless in Billings. The resulting play, “And I Know…” will be opening at Venture Theatre in April 2013 and was recently featured in the Billings Gazette.

This donation would: provide services to individuals experiencing homeless at the 2014 Billings Community Connect, formerly known as Project Homeless Connect; provide Youth Conservatory financial aid to disadvantaged children; and pay for production and marketing costs.

Alternatives analyzed include accepting the donation or not accepting the donation. If unable to accept the donation, Billings Community Connect would not be able to receive funding which helps connect services to those in need in our community.

The City is not required to match the donation. Financial impact is limited to costs incurred following donations specific to Project Homelessness and Billings Community Connect.

Staff recommends that the City Council accept the $5,000 donation from First Interstate Bank to support Project Homelessness.