PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Since 2006 the WestCare Emergency Shelter has served as what the director, Anna Coleman calls, “Pike County’s best kept secret.”
The building that houses the shelter was originally built in 1937 and was known as the Perry A. Cline School, and was used as the educational institute for African-American students in grades first through twelfth. The school closed in 1966, the building was then obtained by the Pikeville Housing Authority, and the organization used the building for a senior and community center until 1992. In 2006 the building was donated by the city to WestCare.
The shelter like most non-profit organizations struggles to make ends meet; they are largely dependent on donations and volunteers, with the majority of the donations for the shelter coming from area churches. They do get a small stifling from the city of Pikeville, however, this year they will not be receiving funding from Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC).
The shelter has three full time employees and one part time employee, who cover the shelter 24 hours a day, seven days a week, volunteers from the Big Sandy Community Action Senior’s Program volunteer to help alleviate some of the work load. In addition practicum students from local colleges and inmates from the Pike County Detention Center also come in to lend a helping hand, the students help out in whatever way they are needed around the shelter and the inmates keep the area around the building clean, cut grass, trim weeds, sweep and mop the floors, they also sort, label and organize the donation items that come into the facility.
The building has both male and female dorms in addition to four family rooms, which will accommodate up to a family of six, each room has a private bath. The facility has a community living room, kitchen and laundry area.
Anyone is welcome at the shelter and all residents who come to WestCare can stay up to 90 days, each resident is required to sign up on food stamps, they must sign up on housing within ten days and unless they are disabled they are required to look for a job three days a week. Residents also have a chore list and are required to maintain personal hygiene. Background checks and drug screens are performed on each resident.
The shelter offers several service to the residents if needed, such as parenting classes, anger management classes, substance abuse program (residents are referred out for this service), they have a budgeting class and teaches the residents how to pay bills, write checks and maintain a bank account.
Coleman said there is an increase in residents every winter, because of increased utility bills and usually there are between 20 and 30 residents in the building.
“It is something you just never get use to,” said Coleman.
The shelter has approximately 580 to 600 people a year com through the doors and one third of those are children.
Recently, Lowe’s of Pikeville used Lowe’s Heroes, which is a program where employees engage in community service, to remodel the playroom at the shelter, in addition Lowe’s also donated paint and flooring to the shelter in an effort to help the appearance of the structure.
Each year, the shelter hosts “Homecoming Christmas” where all of the families that have been at the shelter are invited back to celebrate Christmas, with the staff and current residents. They also do a backpack with basic school supplies for the children in the shelter when school begins or throughout the year if needed.
Coleman said, “The shelter is always in need of hygiene items, towels, sheets and washcloths. We especially need socks and underwear.”
The shelter is non-profit and 501c3 tax exempt, anyone wanting to make a donation whether supplies or monetary can do so by contacting Anna Coleman at 606-432-9442.
The playroom area serves as a comfort zone for many children who pass through the shelter.
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The playroom area serves as a comfort zone for many children who pass through the shelter.
Lowe’s of Pikeville recently redid the playroom area of the shelter, in an effort to make the area more cheerful.
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Lowe’s of Pikeville recently redid the playroom area of the shelter, in an effort to make the area more cheerful.
The WestCare Shelter building was declared a Kentucky Landmark and is located on ReDale Drive in Pikeville, Ky.
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The WestCare Shelter building was declared a Kentucky Landmark and is located on ReDale Drive in Pikeville, Ky.
By Kendra Mahon
kmahon@civitasmedia.com
Kendra Mahon is a reporter for the Williamson Daily News, she can be reached at kmahon@civitasmedia.com or 304-235-4242 ext 2278.