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Full house, short stays standard at new shelter

Officials hold an open house at the West High Street facility.

Elaina Bradley, left, honors Clark County Commissioner David Hartley during an open house celebrating the completion of Phase II of the new men's shelter, the Interfaith Hospitality Network's Hartley House, at 440 W. High St. on Saturday.

Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic Elaina Bradley, left, honors Clark County Commissioner David Hartley during an open house celebrating the completion of Phase II of the new men's shelter, the Interfaith Hospitality Network's Hartley House, at 440 W. High St. on Saturday.

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By Mark McGregor, Staff Writer 7:46 PM Saturday, January 28, 2012

SPRINGFIELD — The completion of a new shelter that expanded the number of men Interfaith Hospitality Network could house was marked with an open house Saturday.

About $400,000 was spent rehabbing a second unit at Interfaith’s Hartley House complex, increasing total capacity to 36, Program Director Doug Willis said. It opened in December at 440 W. High St.

Only 12 men could be assisted at the former Craig House on South Limestone Street that closed in February 2011.

Sheltering is available to men 18 and older who don’t have an active warrant and aren’t a sex offender, and to those re-entering the community from prison.

Since Phase II’s opening, the shelter has been full. The average stay thus far has been 18 to 20 days, Willis said, far less than the maximum 90 days allowed.

The shelter offers a range of social services to help the men turn their lives around, which Willis said is why they might stay for fewer days.

“We really try to make these guys feel like they’re in a home and comfortable, not like they’re in a gymnasium with cots,” he said.

Residents are required to meet with a case manager weekly and have a curfew.

The shelter also offers mental health referrals, life skills classes and other programs. It works with McKinley Hall for drug and alcohol treatment.

A former resident, Carlos DeBerry, said he came to the Hartley House struggling with life and family, and working only part-time and needing housing.

“It’s a great structure. It keeps you going and if you come in with the right motivations, your mind in the right place, knowing the things you want and you need, it’s a great place,” DeBerry said.

Clark County Commissioner David Hartley, a former IHN executive director for whom the shelter is named, was thanked at the open house.

“It’s sad that we have to keep expanding,” Hartley said Friday. “I think that somehow things have to change in this country.”

Hartley has been instrumental to Interfaith and supportive of the project, Willis said.

“He’s continually advocating behind the scenes for the homeless in our community,” Executive Director Elaina Bradley said.

Money for the project came from a $300,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development. The remaining dollars were raised through private donations and fundraisers.

The first phase also cost $400,000 and included rehabbing administrative offices and the first half of the shelter. It opened in January 2011.

The office employs five people, including an on-site drug counselor and social security specialist.

Focus on your community Interfaith Hospitality Network

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