LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
Right now, men and women in Edgar County are sleeping in cars, under bridges and in unsafe situations with nowhere to turn. The newly named board members of Doorway to Hope plan to change that.
Doorway to Hope (DTH) identifies itself as a Christ-centered 501(c)(3) nonprofit “committed to serving our neighbors experiencing homelessness with compassion, structure and real pathways to stability.”
“We are called, by faith and by love for our community, to meet people where they are and walk alongside them toward something better,” the board’s director, Nate Alexander, explained.
According to Alexander, since the group’s formation at the start of the year, it has been on a mission to solve neighborhood issues, with homelessness at the top of the list. Now, that plan has been put in motion after the organization announced that it has secured a property in Paris.
“This is not just shelter — it’s a doorway to a new beginning,” he said. “This has already been a long road filled with prayer, faith and more than a few moments where we wondered if the door would ever open. But God kept opening it.”
The property, located at 502 and 504 East Jasper, is a place the DTH board believes can grow with them as they begin the process of “truly digging into the community.” A mission that is already proving to be “a true process” for Alexander and the board.
“We definitely want people to know this is a community project, it’s not a single church or person planning this,” he shared. “It’s also really important to understand that all of this is happening in phases.”
According to Alexander and the DTH board, phase one of the project focuses on establishing a community center on the newly acquired property.
“We’re not going to be automatically a homeless shelter. It’s just not feasible with codes and precautions,” Alexander said. “We really want to be a friendly neighbor first, and have everybody get to know us, because it’s a change.”
In phase one of the project, an exterior building on the property will be transformed into a community center and offices. The center will have laundry facilities, a shower, meeting spaces, a food pantry and internet access. The property will also provide a home base for two other community groups - Edgar County ROSC and The Homeless Project, directed by Bill Stidham.
“Having an office, here, in the heart of Paris, means we are going to be able to provide so much more and a safe place to talk with whoever needs it,” ROSC coordinator Nicki Hanks enthusiastically shared. “A home base for everything is really a game changer in being able to reach out and provide resources.”
Hanks and other ROSC members plan to volunteer and work alongside Doorway to Hope board members during the Center’s staffed hours. The center will not be open 24 hours, and overnight stays of any kind will not be permitted at the start of operations, still the board made it clear that a establishing a homeless shelter down the road is the ‘ultimate goal.’
“We know there are going to be a lot of questions and we are going to have to fight some of that just simply by slowly going into it, Alexander said. “Our first goal is to be a good neighbor, and to set ourselves up for the community to know who we are and to have some actual success.”
The board admitted that since its acquisition of the property of Jasper Street, they have received push-back and negativity, but they have also received praise and a tremendous amount of community support, including several offers from a community full of people who want to jump in and help.
Because the project will begin as a simple community center, members of the board shared that they are still compiling a list of donations and needs, noting that they will always need items like towels, toiletries, items for the food pantry and linens.
Monetary donations and monthly partnerships are also welcome, and always appreciated, they added.
“This is something we want to last and something we want to see really effect change…. That means we have to take our time and do things the right way, one little step at a time,” Alexander said. “If somebody comes in and they’re behind and need some food, we’re gonna have that available. We’re going to have a shower for those who need it and a safe place to sit and talk,” Alexander said. “Especially when it’s cold or hot in those extremes, we’ll have it open to come in … we’re thinking even about mailboxes and some computers.”
An open house is in the works for June 13, with plans to open doors and launch phase one of the center shortly after. Members of the community were encouraged to follow the groups Facebook page by searching ‘Doorway to Hope’ or to reach out by phone at (765) 205-2757.
“Purchasing this property is really just building the foundation of what we hope to be able to build and to have here in Paris,” Alexander added.