Recently we have been presented with an opportunity that I would like to share with you. It is an idea that intrigues me and is something that I hoped we might expand towards sometime in the future, but hadn’t thought it would present itself this soon. The idea I am talking about is a Transitional Housing program to compliment our Emergency Shelter program.
We have been talking with the owner of an apartment building that is interested in selling their building to our shelter at a greatly discounted price. The building has three ground floor apartments and is ideally suited to our needs. It has passed all state inspections and is basically turn-key with newly updated carpeting and paint in many places.
Currently we have two apartments, 11 beds, with a total capacity to sleep 14 if everyone comes in the right age and gender proportions. Right now if we have a family stay with us it means that we have to split up mom and dad and have them stay in separate apartments with the children divided between the two depending on gender. If we utilize one of our current apartments to house a family in its entirety then we would need to turn away either single men or single women until the family leaves the shelter. Since we have been open we have only had 3 days where one of our apartments was empty.
If we have a resident or family that needs special attention due to a disability, an extenuating circumstance, or even something as common as more than a few children, we have very few options to offer them.
In September we were at capacity and had to turn away 6 calls representing approximately 25 people looking for shelter. Recently we have been faced with a situation that would put us at capacity again with the prospect of turning away any future clients for the immediate future.
There are two options that we have been considering with this apartment building. The first option and simplest scenario would be to use these apartments as an extension of our current 90 day Emergency Shelter program. We could move residents between apartments as the need arises and have more flexibility for families and special needs cases. This type of program’s main benefit is its simplicity and seamless integration.
The second option is the implementation of a 24 month Transitional Housing program which allows residents to transition out of the emergency shelter into a more long term apartment. Residents could pay a small rent as determined by their case manager to help offset maintenance costs. This type of program allows residents the time and flexibility to transition into their own housing once they become stably employed, which as we all know has become increasingly difficult. Residents would still have to abide by most of the current shelter rules and regulations including our 100% sobriety policy with random and/or periodic drug tests. This type of program’s main benefit is its flexibility and relaxed time guidelines.
The main reason I bring this idea to your attention is because I believe that it takes our entire community for any of us to be successful. When we all work together we all succeed. This project is more than I have the budget to realistically consider right now. I am in the process of exploring grants that might be able to help with lease payments but rarely do these grants fund the purchase of a property.
I would ask you to be in prayer about this opportunity and to keep an eye and ear open to the potential for a funding source. Any information that you may have or know about would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and support. The Lord has blessed us through the generosity of our community and your involvement.
Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, I appreciate hearing from you, even if it’s just to say hi.
For serious inquiries about the specifics on the apartment building please email me at newhopeshelter@frontier.com or call at (715) 478-3669.
Thanks,
Micah Dewing
Director