LR center granted OK for renovations
Shelter’s director hopes to house influx of those in need during pandemic
The Little Rock Compassion Center has permission from the city to begin renovations on its new building, which the shelter’s director hopes will house an influx of people seeking help during the covid-19 pandemic.
Pastor William Holloway, the center’s director, said the city helped “speed up” the permission process as other homeless shelters in Central Arkansas have cut back on programs, stopped admitting new people and limited the number allowed to gather inside.
The Compassion Center purchased the former Arkansas Forestry headquarters in June across the road from its main shelter and later announced plans to use the new Roosevelt Road property for women and children.
In the past couple of days, the number of people coming to the main shelter for meals has jumped from about 600 per day to nearly 900. Many need food after losing jobs. Others have had utilities shut off because they couldn’t pay bills, Holloway said.
Some of the increase in visitors — many of whom are women and children — could stem from recent rain, Holloway added.
“It [the number] fluctuates with the weather,” he said. The renovations will cost the release says. “So, the about $750,000, and the Compassion prospect of opening another Center is seeking monetary facility can greatly answer the donations as well as furniture, most immediate need for more bed linens and towels, space.” according to the release. The new property was approved
At the main Compassion in November for conditional Center, only 36 people are use as a homeless shelter. allowed in the dining area Little Rock Planning and at a time. People are being Development staff as well as screened for symptoms of the city fire department employees virus, get temperature checks met with center officials and at the door and stay six feet the architect to review plans, apart. Shelter beds are spread city spokesman Lamor Williams out, the release says. said in an email.
“But limited shelter space is “We are working with the overwhelmed by the number Architect to provide what is of people needing to get inside,” needed as we work through the process,” Williams wrote.
The new building will need showers, toilets and sleeping rooms. Until the facility has a working kitchen, the center plans to handle all food service through the main Compassion Center, according to a news release Tuesday.
Arkansas has about 2,740 people experiencing homelessness, according to 2019 regional reports. Williams said the city is not aware of anyone in its homeless population who has contracted covid-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.