150,000 square foot abandoned hospital being converted into homes for motel housed poor

[Liberal_in_LA]

good use of abandoned property





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A River of Refuge for the homeless

That was when the idea first burst into his imagination. During a commute, Wiley routinely drove past the old Park Lane Hospital at 5151 Raytown Road in east Kansas City. Like always, his eyes glanced at the weedy parking lot and the broken windows in the old building, rising like a forlorn urban island.

He was on his way to feed the homeless at a Raytown hotel. Months earlier, he’d watched a school bus drop more than a dozen children there. Astonished, he learned that they were part of the Raytown School District’s hidden homeless: people sleeping on beds but not in places of their own.

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And, after they’ve paid $800 a month for the room, they have little extra cash for deposits on a rental, which usually requires both a first and last month’s rent.

When poverty grinds people like this, their choices are few: Stay in the hotel; sleep in the car or on a relative’s couch, or split the family up by gender to sleep in a homeless shelter.

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The idea came on fast: Why not convert the old hospital and its many rooms into a home for the poor?

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And even the buildings’ owners have showed their kindness.

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A few months ago, the hospital owners shrugged off the time pressure. Make a monthly payment, pay whatever you can, they told the group. Better for the hospital to be renovated than to sit idle in brokenness.

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Assistance has come from the community, too. Donations have arrived from local colleges that gave Wiley 50 twin beds and college dorm desks. Other gifts include older model telephones and slightly used carpets.

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The River of Refuge board of directors now includes an architect who redrew the plans for the hospital tower to eventually create 68 family living units. Construction is under way now to remodel the office building into 15 three-bedroom units on the first and second floors on the north and south wings, with room for another dozen offices for non-profits on the other wing.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/05/2995124/a-river-of-refuge-for-the-homeless.html#ixzz1Re2s8NTt

[elocs]

1. Here's your first K&R for a good news story. We could use more of this. n/t

[ZombieHorde]

27. Agreed. nt

[WingDinger]

2. Is health care included? Or is the equipment available for self help?

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. the hospital is being converted into a big apartment building/ office structure

The hospital function is long gone. But many services will be offered to the poor.

[xmas74]

4. Website info:

http://www.riverofrefuge.com/

Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/River-of-Refuge-Dream-Center/97739737454?sk=info

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. Thanks. Their focus seems to be helping people out of the trap of

paying rent to a motel which prevents them from saving for apartment.

[xmas74]

7. Exactly.

I know where this place is. I didn't know they were doing all this work on it and for such a good cause.

I'm passing this info on to friends and will bring it up at church. We're within an hour of the area and I could see people willing to donate time, money, and necessary items needed.

[Marthe48]

5. Wish the empty school buildings could be used for the same

A local elementary school building was closed over 6 years ago and is sitting empty. Seems like classrooms are large enough to be partitioned into apartments, at least for singles or small families. Not much, but use a good building and help someone. Won't happen in Ohio, people don't matter here any more.

[grasswire]

8. absolutely

In fact, I was just sitting here thinking about writing a proposal to turn a just-closed elementary school into temporary housing units. The property is already zoned for multiple dwelling -- the school district had a variance for the school.

I have no idea how to make that happen, but it seems a scandal to have empty space when families are on the street.

The newspaper this very morning said that the county has run out of money for emergency rent assistance. Hundreds of families will be evicted.

[Liberal_in_LA]

15. It's a shame for USA to have homeless when so many good buildings empty

[xmas74]

10. I'm shocked it's happening here too.

There are quite a few empty schools in KC right now too and I don't think they know what they're doing with them all yet.

I really hope programs like this will be the beginning to a recovery in the area. Get people off the streets and give them a chance to save money to eventually move into abandoned homes that have been renovated. It keeps property values from dropping too low, keeps the area clean and less likely to attract crime, and it allows for more localized spending. It's a win-win for all involved.

And now that KC allows front yard gardens within reason...

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. This is what happens when unused properties sit unsold / unused for too long

Residents in Evergreen Estates say people living in vacant Flint motel that's become eyesore for neighborhood




An abandoned motel on Center Road has been an eyesore for the neighbors as well as a favorite spot for scrap-metal thieves, who have taken nearly every piece of metal they could remove.

FLINT, Michigan — When resident Walter Lawler looks out his bedroom window in the morning, there’s no beautiful sunrise to meet his eyes at the start of a new day.

His view is one of broken windows, battered furniture, and the skeleton of a former motel at the intersection of Center Road and Court Street.

“I’ve seen people taking things out of there,” said the 71-year-old resident who’s lived in the neighborhood since 1984 when the former 172-unit building was up and running. “They need to bulldoze it, tear it down, or do something with it.”


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“If I go upstairs and look over there there ain't nothing over there but a mess. It makes me feel bad,” he said. “I’m trying to keep my yard together and the neighbors trying to keep theirs together. It's a problem.”

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/07/resident_in_evergreen_estates.html

[xmas74]

23. And there is no reason to have it sitting empty.

There could be other uses for the building if it's still able to be used. If it needs condemned, it should be torn down and maybe the land could be turned into a community garden or small park with benches and trees.

I hate seeing buildings sit and rot.

[Lifelong Protester]

9. A K & R for a story that shows some hopefulness in this era

we have so much empty real estate in this country, it's crazy that anyone should have to be without shelter, GOOD shelter. I think this is great.

[etherealtruth]

Sorry, duplicate response :-(

[etherealtruth]

11. This is a wonderful story

Good news. This is an idea i wish more folk could help come to fruition

[Liberal_in_LA]

20. we need to make use of abandoned buildings before the copper thieves get to them.

Then they become tear downs.

[etherealtruth]

21. I spend an inordinate amount of time ...

... in vacant and abandoned properties (for work) within the city of Detroit ....sadly the "metal" thieves seem to strike within days of a property being vacated. Its very sad.

[ProSense]

12. It's a Christian organization.

From the OP:

<...>

The River of Refuge raised $60,000 the first month. The project was featured in newspaper stories and television accounts, even on The 700 Club International, which donated some $40,000.

But that was still short of a million dollars.

<...>

Church youth groups arrive as well, donating their time to urban mission work. Members of a Dallas group signed their names on a steel support beam.

Area Christians with expertise in construction and design have called Wiley, too.

<...>

Founder.

Wonder if people would object to government funding to address homelessness going to such programs?

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. yeah, but pastor said religion wouldn't be shoved down people's throats

[ProSense]

16. Good to know, but

the issue of government funding for such organizations still generates controversy.

[aquart]

17. Obama has no problem with religious-based charities.

And we already know the rest of us don't matter.

But I don't have a problem with this kind of religious practice. Funny how some see faith as an obligation to help anyone in need, and others see it as an obligation to castigate and exclude.

[ProSense]

18. Thanks for

letting me know.

Obama has no problem with religious-based charities.

And we already know the rest of us don't matter.

But I don't have a problem with this kind of religious practice. Funny how some see faith as an obligation to help anyone in need, and others see it as an obligation to castigate and exclude.

Irony!

[dixiegrrrrl]

24. Remember that Bachmann gets federal and state money for his anti-gay "therapy" program.

as was pointed out earlier today here on DU.

[Uncle Joe]

13. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Liberal_in_LA.:thumbsup:

[xfundy]

22. Hero! (nt)

[tishaLA]

25. the SRO (single room occupancy) arrangements are ok...

But far from ideal. During my un-years, lots of people left the shelter I was in for SROs on or near skid row in downtown LA, but it was never something I wanted because I figured I deserved the chance to live in a real apartment like anyone else. I also wanted to be able to have guests who didn't have to pay $5 to visit me in the evening, etc. I was fortunate: I had an education, persistence, and a program manager who saw to it that I got an all too rare Section 8 voucher and then I lucked into a glorious apartment.

So it's great that we're doing something positive for the homeless, but we still need to demand more.

[Liberal_in_LA]

29. I know that skid row area. Good to hear that you avoided it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. There's another abandoned hospital downtown they have converted into senior citizen housing

I drive by it daily. It's a beautiful facility.

[Liberal_in_LA]

28. Glad to hear another abandoned property is being used for good

[handmade34]

30. good news

:-)

[RainDog]

31. kick n/t

[Autumn]

32. How great is this.

This could happen in many other places too. K/R