Steve Bandy Rayne Acadian-Tribune
The Welcome House, located on La. 13 north of Crowley, depends on the generosity of the community for its existence.
The faith-based shelter for the less fortunate does not receive state or federal funding, yet people from across the state — indeed, across the country — have sought refuge there and continue to do so.
The facility received a much-needed overhaul a few years ago courtesy of the Rotary Club of Crowley and it’s Community Outreach Corp. However, the cost of maintaining the facility is taking its toll.
Representatives of the COC are reaching out in an effort to brainstorm ways to establish a “steady income stream” for The Welcome House, such funds to be used for insurance, maintenance and improvements at the facility.
“It’s just like your house, if you don’t — or can’t — maintain it, it falls into disrepair,” Pat Miers, president of the COC board of directors, told the Rotary Club of Rayne here May 11.
“But it’s on a more massive scale. Imagine 800 to 1,000 people using the plumbing, the kitchen, walking across the floors of your home on a yearly basis,” she added.
Miers said the annual expenses for the facility run at least $10,000, “if nothing breaks.”
And stuff breaks at the 11-year-old facility.
There have been repairs to the air conditioners, the plumbing, the electrical system, the flooring and more.
In 2015, the maintenance and improvements costs at the Welcome House were $74,438, according to Miers.
To help meet the maintenance needs, the COC is seeking sponsors willing to commit to monthly, quarterly or annual contributions “so that there is a continuity of funding to work with,” Miers said.
The COC is responsible for insurance and “major” maintenance issues at the facility. The Welcome House is responsible for all operations.
“It’s amazing to see the work they do out there,” said Ken Arceneaux, a member of the Community Outreach Corp. “It is also disheartening to see the condition of some of the flooring and decking that they simply can’t afford to get repaired.”
Arceneaux added that he was surprised to see the 2016 “geographics” for The Welcome House, a list of where residents are from.
According to that information, the facility signed in 761 people from 40 communities across Louisiana, 62 from 14 other states state and eight from out of country — the latter including the Philippines, United Kingdom, Kenya and Jamaica.
“The total of 831 is not reflective of the total number of residents. Some of those are families of two, three, four or more people,” Arceneaux said.
“So, you see, it’s not just a ‘Crowley’ homeless shelter or even a ‘parish’ homeless shelter,” explained Joe Freeland, COC executive and Crowley Rotarian. “It’s coast to coast, California to Maine — and even worldwide.
“It’s one of the few shelters, if not the only shelter in the country that will take in single men, single men, married couples, and children and house them in a Christian environment.”
In addition to the monthly contributions to aid with the Welcome House operations, COC also is seeking donors to secure funding for long-term maintenance and annual insurance expenses.
To learn more about The Welcome House or for information on how to become a donor, call The Welcome House at 337-783-7066 or Miller at 337-250-5825.
Welcome House History
In 1975, Rev. Roy Kibodeaux housed his first homeless person in his barn. For more than 40 years, Rev. Kibodeaux continued his passionate support for individuals from across the country through The Welcome House Homeless Shelter, a mission of the Maxie Gospel Tabernacle Church.
South Louisiana experienced a spike in homelessness following hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, and another since the recession in 2008.
In February 2006, the Rotary Club of Crowley approved a project to replace the substandard buildings and mobile homes at the shelter with a 65-bed, 8,000-square-foot. the project would house women, men, single-parent families and families in a Christian environment.
Rotary organized the Community Outreach Corp. as a 501(c3) non-profit corporation to own the land and the buildings, which it would lease to The Welcome House for $1 per year.
The new facility, completed in November 2010, includes commercial kitchen equipment, an air conditioning/heating system, multiple washers and driers, a septic system, walk-in cooler/freezer, etc.
The church — Maxie Tabernacle Church — located on the grounds is a separate entity and was built by a separate donor.
The Welcome House is directed by Rev. Stacey Miller, with two on-site resident managers. All are volunteers.
Upon acceptance into the facility, residents sign a contract concerning campus rules, on-site job responsibilities, active job search efforts and working toward permanent housing options.
Medical and educational issues are addressed.
Residents are transported to Workforce in Crowley to learn how to prepare a resumé, fill out applications, call for interviews and actively search for employment. The Shelter transports clients to medical educational and job facilities.
Education is emphasized with children attending public schools and clients working on GEDs and/or technical trades.
Residents are afforded opportunities to attend church services, Bible studies, life skills and a new program called LIFT, a spiritual mentoring via Skype.
A Welcome House resident’s typical day begins with prayer and breakfast. They are then transported to jobs, interviews or doctor visits.
Lunch is prepared for those not working or parents caring for pre-school children.
Chores are assigned to each resident and dinner is served each evening.
Church services are available on the grounds and all residents are encouraged to attend all services.
Residents must be drug and alcohol free in order to reside at The Welcome House and, with few exceptions, rarely remain at the facility for more than three months.