Tuesday, July 7, 2009 — A new, emergency housing option will soon be available in the county as Homes of Hope is working towards the opening of The Community Inn Emergency Housing.

Currently, the inn, which will be able to house eight people on an immediate but temporary basis, is undergoing renovations to add an outside firewall, an ADA approved bathroom shower and a sprinkler system.

The opening of the inn will be contingent on the completion of the renovations, but Skeet Ayscue, executive director for Homes of Hope, said the opening is planned for August.

“Through this facility, people seeking immediate shelter will be able to come at about 6 p.m. Volunteers will provide them with a light meal. They’ll be able to spend the night in a comfortable bed and leave the next morning,” Ayscue said.

Ayscue is also hoping to provide homeless services to the individuals, which could include support from the Stanly County Department of Social Services, Monarch, Daymark and the Downtown Ministerial Association.

Currently, Homes of Hope provides transitional housing for families on a six-month basis, but this program is different from the Community Inn because there is a waiting list for Homes of Hope and applicants have to undergo a screening process. The Community Inn will only be an overnight program but it will be available to families or individuals who need immediate housing.

The inn, which is beside The Community Table on First Street in downtown Albemarle, will have separate rooms — one for men and one for women and children.

Homes of Hope will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of The Community Inn, but the project is a joint effort with Stanly Community Christian Ministry (SCCM), Stanly County Baptist Association and the mental health and social service community along with many Stanly County churches and businesses.

Chris Story, director of the program, will oversee volunteers and operations at the inn but volunteers are needed to help with the operations. Areas in need of volunteers include visiting with people at night to make them feel welcome; providing food in the evening; spending the night at the facility to make sure everyone is OK; doing laundry; and cleaning.

Ayscue, as well as several individuals around the county, are excited about the opening of the inn.

“To see people work to help others is so rewarding,” he said.

The shelter will also help to combat the concern of homelessness around the area. When Homes of Hope first began operations four years ago, there were 72 homeless individuals. That number steadily decreased to 33 last year, but it increased to 54 this year.

“This is a one day county and you have to interview the individual to be able to count them. If you spoke to someone the day before but you can’t find them the day of, they don’t count,” Ayscue said, explaining that the count may actually only represent half of the total homeless population.

“In the time we started Homes of Hope, we have helped about 70 homeless indviduals, 45 of which were children. A lot of people don’t realize that this concern also involves children.”

In order to help raise awareness and donations, Homes of Hope will have a barbecue dinner at First Baptist Church in Albemarle from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. July 31. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased from the church. Christian Cooking Convoy will be preparing the meal.

Those seeking to provide donations can call Homes of Hope at (704) 982-3634.



Contact Tiffany Thompson at (704) 982-2121 ext. 24 or snaponline24@carolina.rr.com.