Oxford City Council gives update on Oxford Winter House funding

The council also adopted a new ADA transition plan

Oxford City Council moved $50,000 in funding to the Oxford Winter House and adopted the 2026 City of Oxford Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan during a regular meeting on July 7. 

Funds to Oxford Winter House

The Oxford City Council approved a resolution granting $50,000 in funding from the Opioid Settlement Fund to Sheltering Oxford, a new nonprofit formed from the Oxford Winter House committee, in order to support operations at the winter house. 

According to the city staff report, these services will include related opioid abatement services, including “case management, housing referrals and transportation.”

The funds would be used during winter house operations from Nov. 15 to March 15, 2027, according to the city staff report.

According to Jessica Greene, assistant city manager for the City of Oxford, the city receives about $30,000 for the Opioid Settlement Fund annually and has about $144,000 in that account to date. The city will pull an additional $20,000 from this account, which, in addition to the $30,000 the city will receive this year, will total $50,000 in funding to support the Oxford Winter House.

With city council involvement, the $50,000 in funding could be a recurring source of support for the Oxford Winter House, according to Greene.  

Oxford ADA plan

The Oxford City Council also adopted a resolution confirming the City of Oxford’s 2026 ADA transition plan during the meeting.

When the city is making budgetary decisions, these recommendations will be taken into account, according to Greene.

The recommended transition plan, which was voted to be sent for city council approval by the Oxford Civil Rights Commission during its June 2026 meeting, includes four high-priority initiatives to be completed this year, two initiatives to be completed in 2027 and two initiatives to be completed in 2028.

The high priority initiatives include the City of Oxford website, which needs to become Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2 compliant; the TRI Community Center, which is beginning its master plan with an intent for major renovations or new construction to be completed within five years, pending city council authorization; the Oxford Courthouse, which is evaluating future use and examining major renovations or new construction to be completed within five years, pending city council authorization; and sidewalks that are deemed necessary for repair or replacement with resurfacing review, according to the city staff report.

Initiatives to be completed in 2027 include the Uptown Parking Lot where the local Oxford Farmers Market is held, which would add a van-accessible parking space and signage, curb cuts where appropriate for mobility aid users and assurance that walkways are level; and implement a sidewalk improvement based on the 2026 Oxford Bike and Pedestrian Safety Improvement Plan, according to the city staff report.

Initiatives to be completed in 2028 include fixing the accessible entrance, adding van-accessible spots and signage and creating 5-foot-wide aisles next to accessible parking spots at the Uptown Parking Garage at 6 W. Walnut St.; and adding cemetery-specific ADA parking and repaving pathways at Woodside Cemetery, according to the city staff report.

The Oxford City Council will meet again at 7:30 p.m. on July 21 at the Oxford City Courthouse, 118 W. High St.