HUMBOLDT — Everyone hopes they’ll never need to use an emergency shelter but most appreciate the peace of mind that comes with having one in your community, Nich Lohman said on behalf of Hope Unlimited.
The organization kicked off a fundraising campaign on Wednesday evening in Humboldt. The hope is to build a new shelter, more than doubling the current space with room to grow to meet the needs of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
It is expected to cost about $3 million.
Funding will come from tax credits, grants and donations — both from corporate sources and individuals — and from participating governments. Hope Unlimited serves Allen, Anderson, Neosho and Woodson counties.
Wednesday’s event, called “Building Hope,” was held at Perry’s Cocktail Bar in The Bailey Hotel and drew about 20 people to learn more about the project.
DOROTHY Sparks, director for Hope Unlimited, talked about the history of the shelter and the growing need.
The organization began in 1984 with efforts to help victims of violence and abuse in southeast Kansas. Sparks has been with Hope Unlimited for 25 years.
At first, Sparks said, board members took victims into their homes.
“After a couple of years, we realized that wasn’t the safest way to go and wasn’t giving people access to services,” she said.
The first shelter was a small, older house with two upstairs bedrooms. About 10 years ago, Hope Unlimited moved into its current two-story house. It can accommodate 18 if they share rooms.
“It doubled our size but it still wasn’t enough,” Sparks said.
The COVID-19 pandemic made that even more apparent.
“We learned during COVID that we could not socially distance. We had to take out the bunk beds and put in single beds, which diminished our capacity to about 12,” Sparks said.
“COVID gave us the push to move forward and believe we could have a new shelter, but it’s something that’s been in our minds for a long time.”
COVID also provided a financial opportunity that had long been lacking.
Federal and state emergency relief funding is available for the project, so a steering committee was formed to oversee fundraising efforts and apply for grants.
The project also was awarded tax credits up to $200,000 for those who donate through the Community Service Tax Credit Program. For those who live in rural areas with a population of 15,000 or less, those who donate can receive up to 70% percent credit on their donations.
