Story Published: Apr 13, 2010 at 7:06 PM MDT
Story Updated: Apr 13, 2010 at 7:07 PM MDT
Tuesday, the shelter announced that despite the rough economy it is expanding.
The new facility is going to be a Community Center for the residents at the Haven. It's going to be an area where classes and training can take place to help these families get back on their feet.
It's taken nearly a decade to make this dream become a reality. The Haven Shelter currently has 22 living facilities and their plans to expand are finally happening.
"It's very exciting, we've been dreaming about this for about 10 years," said Anne Johnson the Haven Shelter Manager.
The new facility will be built just south of the current Haven building, the fact that this project will happen when funds are tight around the community is credited to some huge donations from donors that don't want to be named.
"We just have to thank them that irregardless of the economy they have actually come through, and that's great," said Russ Spain the Executive Director of Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership.
"There is no mortgage, all of the funds are available for everything inside. We have worked very very hard to get the fundings in place to build this," said Johnson.
It will include a kitchen where trainings can take place, a computer lab, a fitness facility, and a child's playroom. They say the new facility will help them achieve their mission of making their residents self sufficient again. It will be a place that classes can be taught and the computer lab will give the residents access they need to finish their GED, or college classes.
"The only way that these families can become whole again is if you give them a chance to be whole themselves so that they can weather hardship," explained Johnson.
The new facility is scheduled to be completed by October.
And the Haven is not stopping here, their goal is to build 19 more living units in the next 2 years or so. They say right now they're receiving close to 10 calls a week from eligible people in need of shelter that they have to place on a waiting list for now.
The Haven said again and again, that the successes they experience are all because of the community. And this expansion is in large part due to donations.