DAEOC seeks funding to build new homeless shelter

SIKESTON — In an effort to aid the area’s homeless, DAEOC is seeking a larger facility, to be called the Delta House, that would more than double the current shelter’s capacity.

At a special city council meeting Thursday evening, the Sikeston City Council approved the resolution by the City of Sikeston to request CDBG-COVID-19 funding for construction of a homeless shelter. If the funding is obtained, the new building would replace the existing shelter that is aging, outdated and overcrowded.

According to Joel Evans, president and CEO of DAEOC, they are looking to build the new shelter on Kathleen Street between Scott and Stoddard streets on property which will be be donated by the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA). The new construction is estimated to cost between $1.5 and $1.9 million and will double the current shelter’s capacity from 24 to 56 residents.

The resolution from Council was needed because the city has to apply for the grant on behalf of DAEOC.

Evans states there are a large number of homeless individuals and families from Sikeston in the surrounding area needing transitional housing. More than the existing shelter can accommodate.

In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, DAEOC received 217 shelter applications but were only able to accommodate less than 25% of them.

According to Evans, the existing shelter is comprised of six residential units, each less than 290-square feet with no separation between sleeping, eating and living areas. Families with up to four children are at times sheltered in one unit and the total capacity is 24 individuals at one time.

The 80-square foot lobby serves as a reception and waiting room for those seeking assistance and even without social distancing can only accommodate four or fewer individuals at a time. The building has small four offices but one of them is too small to accommodate a desk and chair so it is being used to store client files.

Due to lack of storage space, another of the offices is used to store non-perishable foods, linens and hygiene items for residents and cleaning supplies.

If the two usable offices are occupied, DAEOC case management staff use an outside wooden bench to conduct meetings with residents, if the weather allows.

The kitchen is 110-square foot space with a sink, two under-mounted cabinets, a residential-style refrigerator and freezer and a washer and dryer as well as the HVAC system and hot water heater. There is no space for a cookstove or kitchen equipment for preparing meals. The reception area has one bathroom that is used by both staff and those seeking assistance.

According to Evans, a number of homeless individuals who contact DAEOC seeking shelter suffer from either health, mental illness or drug/alcohol abuse issues. The building designed for the new shelter incorporates dedicated areas for mental health and medical services agencies which can result in enhanced and more timely access for shelter residents.

Testing, diagnosis and vaccination for COVID-19 and other communicable health concerns will be provided on site and the new shelter will offer comfortable, safe and secure transitional housing for low-income homeless individuals and families while meeting a critical community need.