A day resource center for the homeless population will expand its services to five days per week starting Sept. 3.
Depaul USA announced in a Wednesday news release the Opportunity House, which opened in April at the site of the former First Ward Elementary School on East Fifth Avenue, has received a grant from the West Foundation to further address poverty and homelessness by serving more individuals and providing “more frequent” case management services. Since its opening, Opportunity House has served 82 individuals, 30 of whom have moved to stable housing, and 18 have increased benefits or employment, according to Depaul.
“Having our services extended to five days a week will allow us to better serve our community by providing for our participants on a more consistent schedule,” Opportunity House Associate Director Chris Taylor said in the release. “Thank you to all of those in our community that helped us thrive.”
Opportunity House has been open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to noon, according to a May article. The city of Pine Bluff provides $100,000 to the facility, which has an annual budget of $170,000, Depaul USA Director Charles Levesque told The Commercial at the time. According to the story, a five-day-per-week center will cost roughly $225,000 per year.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Opportunity House received a $250,000 grant from Lowe’s toward purchasing equipment in 2021.
“With plans to eventually open a night shelter, Opportunity House provides participants with a safe place to rest during the day and various support services including a hot breakfast; technology lab; hygiene services; educational programs and peer support groups; transportation; assistance in obtaining employment and identification records; and in-depth case management with connections to housing and physical and mental healthcare,” the news release adds.