Revived plan for transitional housing in Cape to cost $1.7 million

Building a small group of energy-efficient homes as transitional housing for homeless families will cost about $1.7 million, Eva Hillis of Love INC told about two dozen people gathered to discuss the proposal at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

But the price tag shouldn't stop the effort, said Roy Jones, housing coordinator for the Community Caring Council, because more official support and more grants are now available than at any time during the past nine years.

"I am pressing for immediate action," Jones said. "This is an unusual opportunity that will not be here a year from now."

Advocates for a plan to build transitional housing have worked on the idea for years, but it took the attempt of the Rev. Larry Rice of the New Life Evangelistic Center to obtain the federal building at 339 Broadway for a homeless shelter to bring the plan to life. The starting point is a proposal called Magnolia Place, a plan for nine energy-efficient homes that would be built in the 500 block of North Main Street.

That location isn't firm, and one city resident, Gary Bunting, expressed skepticism about whether the site is suitable. There's no room to expand a successful program at that site, he said. Bunting also questioned whether other cities in Missouri the size of Cape Girardeau have such programs.

John McGowan of the United Way of Southeast Missouri said the Magnolia Place plan and site are good places to start the discussion. The location along North Main Street is eligible for grants to improve blighted areas. A site must be selected before grant applications are made.

"The site is going to determine which grants we go for," he said.

Love In the Name of Christ, or Love INC, is taking the lead to help organize a plan. The next step, Hillis said, is to find someone who can coordinate fundraising.

If the project is completed, organizers hope to be able to house people in emergency need for three to 24 months, allowing them to regain independence through training, counseling and work, Hillis said.

Love INC took on the job because no other group was ready to do so, she said. "We do not pretend to be experts on transitional housing, but we know there are people in our community who are."

A coordinating committee that includes construction representatives has been formed to review possible sites. Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the United Way, issued a challenge to churches to join the effort.

"It is time our Cape Ministerial Alliance got some chutzpah," Jernigan said.

No times have been set for future community meetings, but the coordinating committee will meet later this week and the Love INC board will meet Tuesday to discuss the next step, said Jeff Fanger, president of the Love INC board.

The purpose of the development is to provide a safe, inexpensive place for people in need to rebuild their lives, Fanger said.

"The whole idea is to pick these people up when they need help and help them move along," he said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent addresses:

339 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO

535 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, MO