Carbon County Commissioners say they hope to soon award a $163.000 grant to Family Promise for a women’s homeless shelter.

The proposal for the Community Development Block Grant failed by a 2-1 vote on Thursday.

Ahner and Chris Lukasevich voted against the release; Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein was in favor.

Ahner said he was voting “no, not at this time.”

“I think we have to do a little more research if this is moving forward,” Ahner said. “We can’t just keep handing a lot of money out. We’re not here to deny, but we’d like to see progress also.”

Ahner has supported the dog shelter and many social services that contribute to the county. He said he is in favor of the idea of the women’s homeless shelter, but he just wanted more explanation about how the money will be used. The organization is applying for other grants and he wants to have a breakdown on how the block grant would be used.

“I don’t want to hand out the money until there is a plan. $163,000 is a lot of money,” Ahner said.

“We must be responsible for the money we put out there.”

Ahner said the information on the plan was not available as of the vote Thursday.

He would support assistance to Family Promise from the county’s planning department.

Commissioners said they would be meeting with Family Promise leaders soon, and that the release of the Community Development Block Grant money may again come up for a vote.

The funds would be used for an environmental study for the project, which would be in the former St. Francis of Assisi Church on Mill Street in Nesquehoning. The organization has its office in the former rectory there.

Family Promise board president Natalie Bojko said the organization’s plans would continue.

“Family Promise moved to their static location one year ago. In that one year we have made great progress toward increasing the number of families we serve within our community. As part of our long-term plan, we continue to work towards opening a homeless women shelter. Family Promise is dedicated to this mission. We look forward to working with the commissioners and supporting the needs of those in our county,” she said in an emailed message.

Lukasevich said he has concerns about the continuity of leadership with the board of the organization.

Commissioners met with Family Promise officials about a week ago.

“I see dysfunction. I see extreme tension within the leadership of Family Promise,” Lukasevich said.

He noted that there is an interim director.

“And after meeting with her and other women who are advocates for this, I was very confident this was going to move forward.”

He expressed reservations though about the plan at this point. “So, until there is continuity and leadership, until there is passion for this, I can’t move forward promoting or advocating for these funds,” he said.

Nothstein, who cast the sole vote in favor of the grant, defended the organization.

“There’s a turnover like everywhere else. They are a nonprofit, so they can’t afford the big bucks,” he said.

Family Promise of Carbon County was formed in 2009. It was housed on South Third Street in Lehighton before moving to its present location.

Marta Gouger contributed to this report.