LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
A group of citizens in Paris is putting their faith into action and taking a step towards solving an issue that “affects each person calling Paris home.”
Doorway to Hope, a newly formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit, met with members of the Paris City Council last week to introduce itself and share a mission statement: “to partner with our community to empower individuals experiencing homelessness through compassion, support, shelter and stable housing.”
“You can drive down any street or alley at night in Paris and see somebody pushing a wagon or carrying blankets, just looking for a place to sleep,” board member Linda Lane said. “This issue, homelessness, is very near and dear to my heart, as it is to all of us here … and we believe it’s something that’s very needed in our community.”
The new organization plans to operate in two phases with the goal of eradicating homelessness in Paris, and eventually in Edgar County.
Beginning with the establishment of a supervised community center and eventually expanding into a short-term homeless shelter, members of the board showcased their plans to council members on Wednesday.
They stressed that their proposed facility will not be a long-term housing solution, but a “structured, supportive environment designed to help individuals stabilize and move forward.”
“Our first phase is simply to be a good neighbor,” said Nate Alexander, pastor at Lake Ridge Christian Church and a Doorway to Hope board president. “When someone opens that door, there will be all kinds of opportunities for hope.”
Phase one of the proposed project includes providing access to showers, laundry facilities, computers, resume printing and connections to community resources. The space would also provide meeting areas for counseling, addiction recovery groups and nonprofit partners already serving Edgar County.
“Sometimes people don’t realize what resources already exist in this town,” Alexander said. “We want to be a resource to the resources.”
Sitting on the board alongside Linda Lane and Alexander are Tara Lane, Jonathan Burns, Bill Stidham, Nicki Hanks and Jessica Parrill, all of whom were present at the meeting and took a moment to introduce themselves.
For individuals like Parrill and Hanks, personal experiences with addiction and homelessness motivate them to become deeply entrenched in the project.
“I once was homeless and struggled with alcohol and drugs,” Parrill explained. “I’m just here to reach my hand down again … several of you know my story and what I, and all of us, want the most is to make a difference.”
Hanks noted that many people who find themselves unhoused struggle to get access to basic tools that most take for granted.
“Most people don’t even have a working email, let alone know how to get one,” Hanks shared. “There is such a need for basic life skills and guidance.”
Stidham, a longtime Paris resident, agreed. He described how volunteering at the local soup kitchen opened his eyes to the scope of need in the community.
“I was really oblivious to it until I actually saw the people coming into the soup kitchen,” he said. “Most of them didn’t have clothing. They didn’t have furniture.”
Stidham went on to found the County Homeless Project, which redistributes donated clothing, furniture and household goods to individuals in need. He said the response from donors has been overwhelming, with contributions coming from across the region.
“Stuff isn’t going to the dump,” he said. “It’s being reused, refurbished, and it’s a win-win for everybody.”
The Doorway to Hope board plans to use its facility as a way to connect resources like Stidham’s Homeless Project, the soup kitchen, HRC and the Edgar County ROSC, bringing resources directly to those who need them most. The organization’s leadership also emphasized that nothing will be “built on handouts alone.”
“You don’t build people by just giving everything away,” said Burns, the organization’s treasurer and director of development and communications at Human Resources Center (HRC). “You have to show people that they are worth something. You have to build people who believe in their future.”
He explained that many individuals seeking help have depleted relationships with family and friends, leaving them with “little to no safe options.”
“When you hit rock bottom, you usually burn all your bridges,” Burns said. “This provides people who have run out of places to go a place to start.”
Burns also noted the group’s emphasis on faith, making a point to tell those listening that “Christ will have a place in this mission. None of this, it isn’t possible without him being in the center of any of this.”
The group hopes that when it enters its shelter phase, it can offer short-term stays, modeled after similar programs in neighboring communities, with expectations for participation, accountability and gradual buy-in from residents.
“This is not a one-size-fits-all problem,” Burns said, explaining that homelessness can stem from a range of causes, including domestic violence, job loss, rising costs of living and substance use. “Every individual has a very unique story.”
“Our greatest hope would be that we work ourselves out of a job,” Alexander added. “But until then, there will always be an opportunity to serve.”
Doorway to Hope is currently exploring property options and emphasized that it will work closely with city officials to meet zoning, safety and regulatory requirements as they set their sights on potential properties to transform into a community center and eventual shelter.
“We want to assure the city that we will absolutely comply with whatever regulations and safety requirements are needed,” Linda Lane said. “What we’re asking for is support.”
As for a timeline of the group’s proposal, Alexander told members of the city council that community partnerships, fundraising and collaboration will determine the project’s timeline, but “phase one could begin soon once a property is secured.”
“This is going to be a place of hope,” he said.
For individuals interested in learning more about Doorway to Hope, its mission, future plans and ways to get involved, a Community Engagement Meeting is planned for 6 p.m. on March 26 at Lake Ride Christian Church.