THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: The currently closed women and children’s shelter on Bowman Avenue in Danville
DANVILLE — Danville Rescue knows it will take a collaborative effort to meet the needs of the homeless and hungry in the area.
That’s why the newly formed group has planned an event Thursday where officials will reach out to the community and lay out its plans for where it’s at and where it’s headed.
Organizers area also seeking donations in the forms of financial, materials and volunteers.
Danville Rescue President Christopher Down, paster at Second Baptist Church, said the organization is overseeing what was known in the past as the Danville Rescue Mission and also Dayspring Women and Children’s Shelter, both of which have closed.
The men’s shelter has been closed since April.
Cowen said the necessary organizational structure was no longer present, and there were funding and insurance issues and not enough volunteers.
The sites now are being called Danville Rescue Men’s Crisis Shelter, 834 N. Bowman Ave., and Danville Rescue Women’s Crisis Shelter, 213 N. Bowman Ave.
“While our name has changed, our foundation remains the same. Christ is still at the center of everything we do,” Cowen said. “However, we have recognized a need for greater structure, stability and sustainability.”
He said the organization is facing financial instability and challenges of inadequate facilities, limited community engagement and lack of structured programs for the shelter, which led to the closure of both shelters and soup kitchen.
Reopening has been hindered by safety and resource constraints, Cowen said.
The men’s shelter, for example, doesn’t have adequate windows, and the boilers and refrigeration systems need to be checked out, board members say.
They have also adopted new bylaws and guidelines.
In addition to helping people with food and safe shelter, the group also plans to offer mental-health services.
Cowen said the group wants to be a beacon of light and help with positive change.
It will be focusing on reopening the women’s shelter first, hopefully in October or November and before winer weather, due to finances and what is available.
Cowen said that shelter has less repairs needed, and staffing is more readily available, while the men’s shelter has more building needs, and plans need to be finalized.
Some electrical upgrades were completed on the men’s shelter, in which the city helped with funding, but HVAC upgrades weren’t completed by the shelter.
“It was previously only donor funded,” Cowen said.
The board says after six months of the women’s shelter being open, they can apply for additional federal funding for the men’s shelter.
Board members said they are healing from hitting rock bottom.
They are open to partner with anyone, any organization.
Cowen said they have the hearts to help for the future, but they know it will take assistance.
They said for example, The Dwelling Place and others have been serving more meals and helping where they can.
”It’s going to take our community coming together, rallying around on the idea of helping us help each other,” Cowen said.
They’re working on finding more volunteers too.
More information can be found at the website www.rescuedanville.com.
Danville alderman Jon Cooper said the city has a “healthy homeless problem.”
”I wish you luck and hope we can get it open before winter,” Cooper said.
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