Kansas -With the recent formation of a homeless task force, the homeless has become big news in Wichita. The task force says we need more beds, more affordable housing, and a centralized location for people to seek help. Now, Interfaith ministries is working to make that happen.
Riley Albert is happy to finally have a place he can call home. The Interfaith Villa apartment he just moved into is a big difference from living on the streets. “I slept outside, hard to do during the wintertime too,” Albert said. “I did it for three years." Now, with the help of Interfaith Ministries he's also getting the social services and mental health care he needs. "As soon as we can get people stable, we move them into the housing here,” Interfaith’s Executive Director Sam Muyskens said. “And then we continue to help them thru supportive services."
But that housing fills up fast so Interfaith is building another 32 units on the corner of 8th and Market. Sixteen of the apartments will be dedicated to the chronically homeless, those who have been homeless for more than a year. The massive project will take up an entire city block and will include the Cargill Enrichment Center, set to open by the end of the month.
“That building really becomes a center, the nerve center," Muyskens said. The center will house job training and support groups. Two new outreach case managers will also have their offices here. It will be their job to go out at night to find homeless people and help get them settled in homes.
At the other end of the block this historic building is also being completely renovated for more apartments. Interfaith first started planning for this project five years ago and the last phase here won't be complete until next summer. It's all paid for with a $6.2 million capital campaign.
"We're at 6 million, we have 200-thousand to go,” said Muyskens “It's the most difficult 200-thousand to find." In the end, the project will be mortgage free, which will help Interfaith keep rent low.
For the people who will live here, says Interfaith, the apartments will provide more than just shelter from the heat and cold but the first step to becoming productive members of the community.
Source: KSN.com