This option was considered in great detail, especially given how difficult it is to find new property that meets our requirements (centrally located, on a bus line, etc.).  Ultimately, it became clear that remodeling a fairly old structure and adding on would be cost prohibitive.  When property became available at a bargain price that did meet our requirements, building a new structure became the obvious solution.

Helpmate is grateful to partner with all the area shelters and if a client’s needs can be met in another setting, we explore those options.  Our shelter is different primarily because of the security we provide to keep residents safe.  These residents are there because someone is actively trying to harm, maybe even murder, them.  91% of survivors who reside in Helpmate’s current shelter fall into the “extreme risk” category on the Danger Assessment, which measures homicide risk.  We take security and confidentiality very seriously and follow established best practices. 

While the new shelter will have more beds, it also incorporates many features to make this a truly healing environment.  For example, bedrooms will offer more privacy and options for single residents and residents with children.  There will be a number of smaller kitchens instead of the one large kitchen we currently have, which can cause stress.  An elevator and ADA compliant rooms will make life more comfortable for residents, many of whom come to us with temporary disabilities due to abuse.

It varies, but we look at 30 days as a goal.  During that time, case management and counseling services are available to help plan next steps, be it employment and childcare, protection by the court system, or a whole array of life issues that arise in this transitional time.  Stays have increased slightly in recent years as finding affordable housing continues to be a challenge.  We are meeting this challenge with trained staff using targeted revenue sources to make the transition to a new home feasible for shelter residents who need that kind of support.

It is our hope that we can keep our existing shelter.  We have a number of ideas about how to use it productively after the new shelter is up and running.  The decision to sell the existing shelter depends largely on our community and the success of our fundraising efforts.

The groundbreaking for this project was conducted in mid-April.  Construction is scheduled to begin in May and is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2025.  To date, $12 million in funding commitments have been made towards the estimated project cost of $15.375 million.