Sep 7 2015
The chronically homeless living on the streets of Fort Smith, Arkansas, may not know the extent that caring citizens have gone to help them. But the Riverview Hope Campus - First Step, a new, 75-bed homeless shelter with additional support services, likely will change that.
Last month, the project's sponsor, the Old Fort Housing Coalition (Coalition), was awarded a $500,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) through member institution, First National Bank of Fort Smith (FNB Fort Smith). The funds will help renovate a 127,000-square-foot building, previously used as a furniture manufacturing plant. The first phase of the $2.9 million project involves the remodeling of approximately 30,000 square feet.
"What we are looking to do is to consolidate services into a social services campus for the Fort Smith region. In addition to the First Step shelter, the facility will include therapeutic and support services. It's a hand-up, not a handout program," said Samuel T. Sicard, president and CEO of FNB Fort Smith. "Thank you to FHLB Dallas for the support; it's going to change lives for the better. Not only those who are sheltered, but for the whole community. This helps get people back on their feet. Without the help of the FHLB Dallas, this project would not have been possible."
In addition to the beds, the Riverview Hope Campus will include showers, bathrooms, a kitchen, dining area, outdoor gathering spaces, library, a medical facility staffed by a local hospital, and room for other organizations to provide services, all under one roof.
Coalition President Karen Phillips, who also serves on FHLB Dallas' Affordable Housing Advisory Council, said the Riverview Hope Campus project has been a community vision for a long time. "We have a growing amount of street homelessness in our area, and this is an opportunity to provide not only a safe place for the homeless to rest their heads, but also to give them hope."
Like Ms. Phillips, Ken Pyle, the Coalition's immediate past president, has been a driving force behind the project.
"This will be a 'low-barrier-to-entry' shelter with no time limits on length of stay. We have only four ground rules for entry into the new shelter. Clients will not be allowed to bring in drugs, alcohol, weapons, nor can they act violently. We are trying very hard to meet people where they are in life and to help them transform their lives and become self-sufficient. We knew we could do better for our community."
'Chronically homeless' refers to a person who has lived on the street for 365 days or more or has been in four or more shelters within that time frame. The population of Fort Smith totaled more than 87,000 people in 2013, according to U.S. Census records. Mr. Pyle estimated that every night at least 75 to 90 individuals sleep unsheltered. The greater Fort Smith metro area, the second largest in the state, encompasses nearly 280,000 people.
"Throughout the years, we have really noticed certain needs that are not being met," said Ms. Phillips. "To remedy that, there have been some amazing people who have joined together to be champions for those who don't usually have a voice."
The annual AHP grants assist in the development of affordable, owner-occupied, rental, and temporary housing for very low- to moderate-income households located across FHLB Dallas' five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. In 2015, FHLB Dallas awarded $7.4 million in AHP grants to 32 projects that will result 965 new or renovated housing units.
Greg Hettrick, vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas, said the needs are great throughout the District, but FHLB Dallas' members are committed to providing funding for projects, such as Riverview Hope.
"The Riverview Hope Campus project is an example of project that is intended to improve the community," he said. "Through our partnership with FNB Fort Smith on this first phase of the project, 75 additional beds will be available to serve the homeless population in this community. That is inspiring."