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Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for DAEOC's unsheltered center in Sikeston
SIKESTON — Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corp. completed construction of its new resource center for the unsheltered in Sikeston and celebrated the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
On Monday, Nov. 25, project leaders and community members gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new shelter on Kathleen Street, between Scott and Stoddard streets. Those there were also given the opportunity to visit the shelter and observe what each unit looked like.
According to Joel Evans, CEO of DAEOC, the new facility replaces an aging shelter that has served the community for 40 years. Evans said the new shelter is double the size of the old shelter and will be more pleasant for families.
“It’s been almost a year since we broke ground in this exact spot,” said Evans. “We try to avoid the term ‘homeless shelter’ because it doesn’t look like a homeless shelter when you walk in the door.”
Evans described it as a resource center for the unsheltered, with 12 units. The homeless shelter is designed in an apartment-style configuration. Four of the units have two bedrooms, while the remaining eight are studio apartments.
“It’s not like the dormitory style that you would think of; it truly is home for the neighbors who will be staying here,” Evans said.
According to Evans, the facility was built for families suffering unshelteredness to allow them to stay together while working on challenges as they transition to more stable housing.
Evans said DAEOC staff will work with families while they stay at the shelter to address the issues that have put them in a homeless situation, in the intention of helping them and finding permanent homes.
“It’s a facility that promises safety in the cold and winter, the heat of summer and the worry about having a place to go at night,” Evans said. “It’s a symbol of compassion that the city and the community has.”
Evans said this is one of the few shelters in the area that can accommodate an entire family, and the first family is expected to move in by Dec. 1.
Evans also mentioned DAEOC’s adopt-a-room program, which allows any individual or group to adopt and furnish a room.
“Our previous shelter closed almost a year ago,” Evans said. “We were hoping to keep the center open until this facility opened, but because of a couple floods, there was damage to the facility, appliances and furniture, so we had to close.
He continued: “That being said, we are asking for help from the community, and we have received a great outpouring with the adopt-a- room program. There are several partners in our community that have donated $5,000 to furnish and put appliances in each unit.”
Evans said a plaque will be placed in each unit to acknowledge their donation. Call 573-471-6041 for applications for the shelter.