Changes soon for homeless center

Nonprofit operator plans more hires, new look at LR site

Little Rock's day resource center for homeless people will get a new look and expanded services by the end of the month when a nonprofit takes over control of the facility.

The city, which owns the Jericho Way Homeless Day Resource Center at 3000 Confederate Blvd., approved a contract last month with Depaul USA Inc. to operate the center beginning March 23.

Depaul USA Executive Director Chuck Levesque said he will start making official job offers this week for the seven positions that have been advertised -- a director, receptionist, cook, volunteer coordinator, two case managers and a part-time custodian.

The agency plans to redecorate the lobby so it has a less institutional feel. The changes may require the center to be closed for a few days, but the current plans are to renovate the facility over the weekend so no closures are necessary. The center is open Monday through Friday.

"We're going to try and create a more welcoming environment when you come in. We'll move away from just cafeteria tables and the TV to more of a great room setup -- couches, a coffee table, art, plants," Levesque said. "We want to create an environment that fosters community, puts the clients more at ease, gives more dignity and feels more like home."

Little Rock started the center in 2013 to provide resources for the homeless such as showers, laundry and mail facilities, afternoon meals, job services and health screenings during the day. The city also provides transportation to and from the center.

The privately run Union Rescue Mission's overnight shelter is across the street.

The city's intent had always been to contract with an agency to operate the center, but a deal with the Union Rescue Mission fell through early on, and Little Rock didn't put out a request for proposals until last year.

When Depaul takes over the center, visitors will be able to do laundry there for the first time.

Although listed as one of the center's resources by the city, the facility never had a washer or dryer. The city began remodeling the small laundry room last fall. A commercial washer and dryer were installed a few weeks ago, but there weren't enough employees to staff the laundry room, Assistant City Manager James Jones said.

"During this transitional time, resource center clients are able to utilize laundry services provided at The Dream Center three days a week. Additionally, the Salvation Army also offers laundry services," he said in an email.

The city employs five people at the center. Depaul plans to employ seven. Everyone had to reapply and interview for their jobs. Levesque said he will send an offer to some of the city employees who will keep their jobs. He said he'd release the names of those hired after official offers and acceptance letters are received this week.

City Manager Bruce Moore has said that any city employee who isn't hired in his current position can apply for openings in other city departments.

Levesque and other Depaul officials were in Little Rock last month to interview job candidates and meet with potential partners and volunteers. The nonprofit plans to partner with hospitals and medical service providers to expand the health screening services at the center.

Depaul also will set up a local advisory council made of community churches and businesses that commit to contributing financially to the center. The council members will advise on operations of the center. A number of Catholic and Methodist churches have already signed on, Levesque said.

He hopes to have the council in place by May and to eventually add to the group. Depaul's plan to operate the center relies heavily on volunteers from the council members' congregations or workplaces. The nonprofit plans to use volunteers to staff the laundry services and offer meals.

After a few years, the agency hopes to significantly expand the day center's services to include housing placement. Depaul operates a similar day resource center for the homeless in Macon, Ga., and is basing its Little Rock operations off the Macon model.

Its mission is fourfold: to help people overcome the immediate emergency of homelessness by providing food, clothing, laundry and showers; to improve their health outcome with free clinics and health services; to improve their economic standing with job training and placement; and lastly, to help them maintain and sustain housing.

Depaul will put a big focus on working with the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs for help with housing assistance, Levesque said.

"That's really critical from a caseworker perspective. The caseworkers have to become advocates for people to get housed," he said.

Metro on 03/01/2015

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