Shelter needs renovations, expansion

Jeff Bell, director of the Bishop Houck New Hope Village in Holly Springs, and board member Fred Carlisle gave the Marshall County Board of Supervisors an update on the progress at the homeless shelter and hopes for increasing its outreach.

The Catholic Diocese of Jackson bought the property in May 2017 and has since been working to restore living units and to expand services. Of 13 units on the property, six still need renovation, Bell said.

There are between 20 to 25 people being housed at the shelter, those staying for one or two days up to six months for those who pay a little rent.

Two families have recently transitioned from the shelter back into independent living, he said.

Once the additional six units are ready, the village can house about 42 individuals.

Phase II of the renovation of the old food pantry and clothes closet building will involve making a living space for homeless women (including mothers with children) who can come in at night, eat, wash clothes, and leave the next day.

Those who stay at the village are required to get busy trying to become independent. That means signing up for social services with Sacred Heart Southern Mission and starting to look for a job.

Persons who just come and sit are pushed out.

“The word is out this is not a place where you come and sit,” Bell said.

Long-term, the directors hope to purchase more property behind the existing site to expand (Phase III).

Carlisle reported that a recent single mother with two children, who had lived in the village, had transitioned from homelessness to a house off Park Avenue and a job.

“It does work when people want to help themselves,” Bell said.

He said one unit serves as an emergency shelter for mothers with children.

Most guests are from Mississippi, Bell said.

He said there are 65 families on the waiting list.

Supervisor Charles Terry asked what issues or reasons contribute to homelessness.

When asked why they are homeless, answers vary.

Sometimes the breadwinner died or left. Others may have fallen behind in their rent and were evicted.

House fires contribute to homelessness.

Bell said those who are homeless with no place to stay are served first.

If a person is sleeping on a brother’s couch or living with a mother, they are not homeless, Bell said.

Getting people back to independence often requires they get a job and a car to go to work in.

Supervisors said they need to get local and private legislation in order to be able to donate to the shelter. The previous local and private has expired (because shelter closed), said chancery clerk Chuck Thomas.

“Like Fred says, we take personal checks, too,” Bell said.

Carlisle said a wide variety of churches are involved in helping the shelter.

“When a person is in trouble and we do not have to send them to a hotel, we want it to be a nice place that everybody is proud of,” he said.

Supervisor Ronnie Joe Bennett asked if a person could take a personal donation off as a tax deduction.

Bell said the village operates under a non-profit in Jackson, but the village itself has filed for non-profit status and expects to get it.

Bennett wondered out loud if lack of tax deductions keeps people from giving to the shelter.

Terry said one way to help is to give to the church and have the church earmark the gift to the village.

He asked what is the price tag on the next phase.

Bell said Phase II will need at least $100,000.

His salary and expenses do not come out of the village budget, he said.

Terry asked if there are plans to try to get federal funding restarted.

“We have an attorney looking at grant applications,” Bell said.

Carlisle said volunteer plumbers, carpenters, and other craftsmen are needed to help bring units up to standard.

Terry said the board could patch some money in the new budget just in case local and private legislation passes in the Legislature next session that will allow the county to resume donations to the shelter.