Status UpdateBy Shelter Home of Caldwell CountyShelter Home expansion progressingby Paul Teague

A bigger and better Shelter Home of Caldwell County is on the way.

More than 10 months after having a ceremonial groundbreaking, work is expected to begin at the site this week.

“We are going to start moving dirt,” Shelter Home Executive Director Sharon Poarch said. “We are so excited.”

The work will double the size of the current home and is expected to be completed in late spring.

Just getting the project going is a major step forward after encountering delays following the groundbreaking last September.

“The design process took almost a year longer than I had thought it would,” Poarch said. “There are so many hands in this and so many checks and balances.”

To pay for the $1.2 million project, Shelter Home received $500,000 from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency and an additional $390,000 through the Federal Home Loan Bank. Though considered as loans, the contributions will be forgiven as long as the Shelter Home continues with its core mission of providing services to victims of domestic violence and their children.

During the past year, the Shelter Home helped 400 individuals, nearly half of whom were children. Poarch said the facility, located in Lenoir, consistently has remained at or near full capacity.

Donations from individuals and foundations have helped provide all but $65,000 of the money needed to pay for the project. Poarch has been continuing her efforts to find the additional money needed.

“We are almost home,” she said. “We are continuing our fundraising efforts, and we are confident that we will locate the rest of the funding in the months to come.”

Once finished, the Shelter Home will be able to double its client space in order to house 40 individuals. The site also will contain four rooms dedicated to assisting individuals for up to nine months, as opposed to the current 90 days. Clients involved in the transitional program will receive assistance with life skills.

Poarch noted that the children’s play area also will double in size. In addition, clients who are doing laundry will be able to keep an eye on their children in the play area.

Another improvement will be the installation of a commercial kitchen, which Poarch said will be utilized for cooking programs.

Started in 1978 as a community mission to help those in abusive situations, Poarch said she welcomes those seeking to provide volunteer services.

“I invite the community members who want to be involved to call me,” she said.

For additional information about the Shelter Home, call 828-758-0888. The organization’s web site is shelterhomecc.org.

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