Renovations Underway at the Crisis Center
Changes are coming to the Joseph House Crisis Center.
Some much-needed upgrades and maintenance will freshen up the exterior and help us respond to the needs of our visitors. We are getting funding help from a friend of our ministry, who also donated an outdoor statue of St. Joseph and the Child Jesus in memory of his sister (see 60 Years of St. Joseph).
The Crisis Center opened in 1984, and it was expanded and remodeled in 1998 (see 25 Years Ago We Built the Hospitality Room). Among ourselves we refer to it as “the Center,” and it is the center of our activity, the heart of our ministry, and a second home for us. We are happy and grateful that we can show the Center some TLC (“tender loving care”), and we want to share what is happening.
Front Lawn Beautification – In April, a trailer was removed from the front lawn of the Crisis Center. The trailer had been there since the 1990s and over the years it was used for a variety of purposes. It was no longer needed, and as it had been manufactured in the 1960s, its condition had begun to deteriorate. A demolition crew took the trailer apart and hauled it away. The trailer had been used for the director’s office, the employment counselor, meeting space, volunteer appreciation breakfasts, the Christmas program, and a pilot program for the Joseph House Workshop. Watching it go was bittersweet. A lot of good memories resurfaced.
The removal of the trailer left a large patch of bare earth on the front lawn. Appropriate landscaping work is repairing it. We hope to plant small evergreens along the existing fence and cut back some brush. Flower beds will add vibrant color. A second trailer behind the Crisis Center will be removed at a later date. It was used for storage but has outlived its usefulness.
Front Exterior Maintenance – The exterior walls of the Crisis Center are receiving a fresh coat of paint. The rusty window grates are being removed and new windows installed. The small front porch will be taken away and the weathered wood on the covered walkway will be painted. A new overhead sign will complete the picture.
New Appliances for the Soup Kitchen – A new oven and refrigerator/freezer have been purchased. The appliances have a large capacity and are commercial-grade.
Bathroom and Shower Upgrades for the Hospitality Room – Wear and tear have taken their toll and new fixtures are planned.
New Dryer for the Hospitality Room – A large commercial dryer was purchased, which because of its size had to be installed in the Food Pantry area of the Crisis Center. This required some electrical re-wiring as well as some rearrangement of the Pantry space. The size of the dryer will speed up the laundry process for the homeless individuals who visit the Hospitality Room.
A lot of good people worked hard to open the Crisis Center back in the early 1980s. We take to heart our obligation to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us. Keeping the Crisis Center in good condition not only helps us do our mission, it is in itself part of the mission: we show respect to people and affirm their dignity by having a nice place for them.
The support we receive for our ministry is so gratifying. We take pride in the Center and all the good work that takes place there, and we hope you do too.
St. Joseph, the provider and protector of the Holy Family, is always looking out for us. He makes sure we have what we need to do God’s will.
We will post updates as work progresses.