ROCKPORT — Members of the Knox County Homeless Coalition are moving forward with our goal of opening the doors to Hospitality House, and we are asked this question repeatedly — "Why isn't the Hospitality House open?" The answer is easy: at the moment, we don't have enough money and volunteers.

In order to be eligible for funding, Hospitality House needs to be open 24-hours a day, and services need to be available for the residents. This is a change that requires planning, expertise, core staff members and a cadre of volunteers. Even more importantly, and at the heart of the matter for us, is knowing that once we open the doors, they will stay open. For that, we need the promise and support of the community. Both money and volunteers are at the center of keeping those doors open.

Keeping the doors open is a monumental financial and community effort. The board of directors and committees of the Knox County Homeless Coalition exemplify the involvement of the community. We are a collaborative group of dedicated people who include representatives from New Hope for Women, (which currently acts as our fiscal agent), Area Interfaith Outreach, the Career Center, local community faith organizations, Family Harbor Services, K.I.T.S., Mid-Coast School of Technology, Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Norman Insurance, Penquis CAP, local schools, Youth Forum Maine, other nonprofits and other interested community members.

We meet weekly to discuss, evaluate, strategize, formulate and update the continuous efforts to raise funds, volunteers and donations, and establish a business plan. We have incorporated, and are seeking federal tax-exempt status. We are confident that, with your help, we can establish a sound, viable and multi-faceted program that first provides homeless individuals and families a temporary home, and second provides assistance so that they may establish themselves in a more permanent home.

"The reality we had to face when accepting MaineHousing's offer to run and manage the shelter and provide the wrap-around services, was that we had to create the structure to be able to successfully and safely accomplish this. The shelter, before it closed, was an overnight emergency shelter where everyone was supposed to be out early in the morning and not able to return until early evening. What we needed to create and offer grew out of our Shelter Without Walls, where we provided not only shelter but a series of services and supports for people to successfully gain stable housing, education or training, food security, medical, and mental health resources", said Pinny Beebe-Center, the chair of Knox County Homeless Coalition.

Pinny added, "When MaineHousing acquired the Hospitality House, they hired exterminators and professional cleaners to put it in good shape for renting. What this also meant was that everything containing fabric had to be disposed of: mattresses, bedding, child seats, cushioned chairs and couches. We are starting at the very beginning to furnish and make hospitable the space at the Hospitality House. The community has been generous with beds, household items, bedding, pillows, blankets, hygiene items, china, and cash donations. We still need more of these items and will have to purchase the mattresses for the beds."

The KCHC is thankful for the out-pouring of support we have received so far, and the enthusiasm for the grander plan to end homelessness: one story, one life, one case, and one day at a time. We are dedicated to our goal of opening the doors of Hospitality House.

We need and welcome your help. Contact Annette Burns at aburns@penquis.org or phone at 974-2433 if there are ways you can assist. We'll soon have a website and will let you know when that is finished. In two weeks, in our next article, we will have one of our former residents tell her story. It shows what we can accomplish when we work together. We know it will inspire you, as it did, us.