THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: The former Dayspring women’s and children’s shelter is being converted into a 32-bed temporary homeless shelter for men.
DANVILLE — Within a couple weeks, a 32-bed temporary shelter for homeless men could be open in the former Dayspring Women’s and Children’s Shelter on Bowman Avenue.
Michael Ewing, president of the Danville Rescue Mission, said with community donations and revenue from their thrift store, they’ve paid off the past due balances on power bills on the building at 213 N. Bowman Ave.
They are now working on opening the shelter, working with the city on code enforcement issues, with an electrician coming in on Friday, according to Ewing.
“We’ll be ready to open,” he said.
He also asked about the city helping non-profit organizations with funding.
Pastor Randy Downing said no one in the community should be left on the street. He also said the city should find some emergency funds to match what the community has come forward to do so far for the shelters on Bowman Avenue.
The men’s shelter has been closed since April.
In September, officials with the newly formed group Danville Rescue announced it was seeking donations in the forms of financial, materials and volunteers. The new organization had been overseeing what was known as the Danville Rescue Mission and Dayspring Women and Children’s Shelter, both of which had closed.
Those with the group said the necessary organizational structure was no longer there, funding and insurance are issues and they didn’t have enough volunteers. The men’s shelter had been located at 834 N. Bowman Ave.
Reopening has been hindered by safety and resource constraints. The men’s shelter doesn’t have adequate windows, and the boilers and refrigeration systems need to be checked out, board members had said.
The group had been focusing on reopening the women’s shelter site first, due to finances and fewer building repairs needed.
Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. also suggested the Three Kings of Peace’s Roselawn Fitness Center also possibly serve as a temporary homeless shelter in the city.
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