04 Feb 2013 Construction begins on new homeless shelter
Staff and volunteers were excited last week to see dirt work begin at the site of the new Bethlehem House homeless shelter.
Nabholz Construction is in charge of the project on the Duncan Street site, located a few blocks north of the current facility. It is expected to take eight to 10 months for construction.
Stacia and Johnny Adams served as co-chairs of the Home for the Homeless capital campaign.
“The start of the building is a testimony that Conway cares about the plight of those who for whatever reasons find themselves in this situation,” said Johnny. “And the really good news is that Bethlehem House doesn’t just provide a roof over their head but a program to help them get back on track with their life, their finances, their choices. Thank you Conway for supporting our $1.3 million dollar fundraising goal and we look forward to celebrating the first night of shelter provided by this amazing gift of kindness very soon.”
It was announced in December that efforts to raise $1.3 million for a new facility have been successful, according to Judi Lively, executive director of Bethlehem House. The announcement was made at the Josh Wilson concert at Woodland Heights Baptist Church. The event added $10,000 to the capital campaign.
“It pushed us over the $1.3 million goal,” Lively said. “We had to reach it by the end of the year to get the Mabee and Windgate foundation grants. We knew we were very close…We expected it to happen by that event.”
Lively said those involved in the campaign have worked diligently to reach the goal, which is a significant accomplishment in light of the economy and other fundraising efforts in the community. “That’s a phenomenal amount of money to come in during that length of time,” she said. “More than two-thirds has come from this community.”
Last February, two grants and a lead corporate gift were announced to kick off the public phase of the campaign. Conway Corporation, which operates the city-owned electric, water, wastewater, cable internet and cable television utility services for the citizens of Conway, provided a lead gift of $250,000. The city of Conway has also awarded $150,000 through the Community Development Block Grant Program.
“I don’t think you could pick a better place to live and work. The people really care about one another,” Lively said.
The J. E. and L. E. Mabee Foundation Inc., a Delaware non-profit corporation, has provided a matching grant of $230,000. The Windgate Charitable Foundation, based in Siloam Springs, has also awarded a matching grant for $200,000.
Lively said you see that outpouring of support and compassion for neighbors in other places when there are natural disasters. “In Conway, I think you see it every day.”
The 100-year-old Victorian house on Faulkner Street that has housed the Bethlehem House mission since it began in 1991 is in desperate need of immeasurable costly repairs.
The planned 7,200-square-foot facility will allow Bethlehem House to provide transitional housing for 35 residents in one location and up to eight people in emergency situations – a much-needed resource that doesn’t exist in Faulkner, Perry or Conway counties.
The new facility will be handicap accessible and include a playroom for kids.
The new facility will also have a larger dining room and kitchen that will better accommodate the soup kitchen that Bethlehem House offers every night. There will also be a multi-purpose room equipped with computers for residents to use in job searches.
For more information or to make an online donation to Bethlehem House, please visit http://bethlehemhouse.net.
