Slidell Caring Center expansion helps more families

December 3, 2013

by Site Administrator

Just as a cold snap hit the New Orleans area, the Caring Center in Slidell opened its doors to an additional 750 square feet Nov. 26, giving more women and children in need of temporary shelter a place to stay.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony that same day hailed the expansion, which includes three bedrooms, a bathroom and relocated laundry room. It brings the total square footage of the center to 4,550, increasing the number of bedrooms to eight and bathrooms to two.

“Thank you,” Mary Holland, executive director, told a group of supporters. “The demand is greater than our capacity, and this is going to help greatly.”
   Holland has noticed that the number of homeless women has increased since the Caring Center opened in November 1994. The addition to the facility allows her to accommodate between 22-24 people a night, depending on the sizes of the families, as compared to only 15 previously. Most who come to the center are from St. Tammany.
   “It’s been a life saver to many families,” volunteer Bonnie said about the Caring Center. “This is a turning point. In many ways, it has changed lives.”
   “I don’t know what I would do without the Caring Center,” resident Dee said.
18 months to finish
   The project was a community effort among the Good Samaritan Ministry at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church (a supporter of Good Sams), the city of Slidell, the Epworth Project (a Methodist disaster relief ministry), St. Tammany Homebuilders’ Association and Andrew Peffley of Peffley Construction.
   “It’s a beautiful example of Christian faith in action,” said Sue Rotolo, Good Sams’ executive director. “We find that when the community comes together, good things happen.”
   Good Sams is a ministry that helps with emergency “bills of necessity” such as rent and utility bills, food, medicine, burial costs, simple home repairs, gas for work or doctor’s appointments and even offers counseling. Rotolo said Good Sams got involved when it noticed a need for places for women and children in need to stay while in crisis.
   “Good Sams will often sponsor a woman’s first month there,” Rotolo said. “This is the best solution, long term. The Caring Center lets people stay until they get a job or (resolve) whatever it is that caused them to be there. It gives them time to breathe and figure out what they are going to do. You can help more people get back on their feet by giving them a place to stay.”
   Gene Bellisario, a St. Tammany Parish councilman, a St. Luke parishioner and Good Sams social advocate and board vice chairman, sees strength in the partnership with the Caring Center.
   “This is a way for us to step in and help people restart their lives in a nice environment,” Bellisario said.
   Rotolo said the $55,000 project was financed with $28,500 from the annual St. Tammany Homebuilders’ Association Raising the Roof for Charity fund-raiser and from Good Sams’ operating budget. Peffley Construction provided at-cost construction, and Epworth Project volunteers completed the finishing work.
   “It took awhile, but it is done,” Rotolo said.
What is Caring Center?
   Holland said the Caring Center, which is the only women’s and children’s shelter in St. Tammany Parish, has helped more than 750 families with housing and homelessness since it opened. On average, women and their children stay for approximately four months. But, Holland said, some stay for as long as a year to 18 months. Holland said she would do whatever it takes to keep people off the street.
   “I try to get them into housing programs,” Holland said, “but sometimes, the housing programs take a long time to open up.”
   Women, ages 18-96, come to the Caring Center for reasons such as loss of home due to fire, flood, divorce, death in a family, an abusive situation, loss of income or substance abuse. When they arrive, they are offered more than a place to stay. Holland said they work with other agencies to provide food, clothing and case management. A resident aide stays with the women 24 hours a day.
   “We look at each family – their assets, liabilities, needs and look at what it will take to move them forward and get them out of the situation they are in and never get in it again,” Holland said. “Our goal is to end homelessness.”
   The annual operating budget of the Caring Center averages around $85,000-$110,000, but Holland said a budget of $250,000-300,000 would help her operate the center at its best. The addition will add more insurance costs to the budget.
   “It’s practically a miracle,” Holland said about running the center on such a low budget. “I call it divine intervention.”
   When Holland is able to get grant money, she pays for a month of rent or a mortgage if that’s what a woman needs to stay in her home.
   “We can always use monetary donations and donations of household goods that we all use – paper towels, toilet paper, etc.,” she said. “We also try to give presents to the women and children who are here during the holidays.”
   “We want to celebrate,” Rotolo added. “It’s a good day. We are very glad we have a place for people to stay.”
   The Caring Center can be reached at (985) 646-1368. Financial donations also are welcome, and may be mailed directly to P.O. Box 1323, Slidell, LA 70459.
            Christine Bordelon can be reached at [email protected]

Tags: Caring Center in Slidell, Holland, Uncategorized