MANSFIELD, Ohio – They’re not wearing uniforms. They’re not scoring points. But there is a team of local non-profits battling the clock to help house a homeless Mansfield family by the end of the year.
The Building Industry Association of North Central Ohio and the Harmony House are working together to restore a residence at 136 Dickson Ave. to shelter a homeless family.
At the Harmony House, men are located on the bottom floor and not allowed upstairs where the women and children are sheltered. Even if a woman leaves to go to work, the children can’t stay with their father at Harmony House. The Dickson Avenue structure would alleviate that issue, for 90 days, for a homeless family – or house a single-parent homeless family.
“We used two $20,000 grants for this project, from the Rupp Foundation and the Ohio Housing Finance Assembly,” said Crystal Stewart, of the Harmony House. “This will be an extension of our shelter, it would help keep a family together.”
It’s a daunting task, but one the team hopes to complete before 2016 arrives.
“Structurally, this is a sound house. That’s the good news,” said Sonny Fraizer, president of the BIA. “But everything is being redone and brought up to code.”
Natilie Miller, executive director of BIA, said 76 members are part of the organization. An email blast is sent out for volunteers, and those who can make it bring their hands and their expertise to the site.
On Friday morning, four workers were chipping away, with others drifting in and out as the day unfolded. Shawn Peters was working on the frame of what will be the bathroom, while Fraizer was putting the finishing touches on the entrance.
When completed, the small but cozy home will have one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen and a living room.
“We hope to have it done by the end of the year,” Miller said. “But it will depend on the weather. We have to fix the siding, there is painting to do. We do what we can as we go.”
This marked the third Friday of work, and already a new patio has been laid, a solid outside stairwell and landing installed, and work begun on the interior.
“It’s better than being homeless and living on the street,” Fraizer said.
The property itself was once considered a mother-in-law suite, with the main home facing West Fourth Street. When that residence was razed, the structure left behind was considered abandoned. There were no utilities hooked up, and even the address was murky because of its location and relationship to the former building in front of it.
“That was something else, just trying to get the gas, water, electric, utilities hooked up, because some had it as one address, and others listed it as another,” Stewart said.
The 25-year-old Harmony House is sheltering 46 people this week. In a typical calendar year the agency assists 500 to 700 homeless men, women and children. To address the homeless situation, it also operates a nearby six-unit apartment building with low rent. There are plans for another unit someday, if funds allow.
“We have people that drop their kids off here when they turn 18,” Stewart said. “Another unit would allow them a chance to do their homework, look for a job.”
But funding is a constant concern. That’s why the BIA, and it’s armada of skilled volunteers is so crucial.
“This is one non-profit helping another non-profit,” Fraizer said.
