A Shelter For Christmas

Thanks to the work of many, the hopes and dreams of having a shelter are becoming a reality. At 8:30 a.m., Friday, December 12, the management teams of Okaloosa/Walton Homeless Continuum of Care/ Opportunity, Inc. and the Community Development Corporation agreed to purchase the former girls' group home at 305 Lovejoy Road. At 10:00 a.m., an agreement with the sellers was reached, and the contract signed. Closing is set for December 30.

The Community Development Corporation, led by Mike Kent of Progressive Management of America, Inc., provided the purchase structure, adding Opportunity Inc. to the Harbor Place LLC and financing the purchase through that entity using State Housing Initiative Program funds (Sadowski Housing Trust dollars). Opportunity Inc., like the Community Development Corporation and FRESH Start, will have three members on the Harbor Place LLC Board of Directors.

Judy Byrne Riley, French Brown and Nate Smith of the Opportunity, Inc. Board of Directors led the negotiations to purchase the property. Having a commercial realtor, a banker, and a businessmen as our representatives proved to be a shrewd move in that we received the contents and favorable terms as well as our initial bidding price.

There is a lot to be done. We need to get appraisals, property insurance, and set up an operating fund to support shelter activities. We need volunteer rosters, and food donations, and painters. We will need to have the health department and fire marshall inspect the property and recommend necessary modifications.

But we can do this. We have come so much farther than we had dared hope just a few months ago, and we won't let it falter now.

We are making history in Okaloosa County, and it is a blessing for homeless families, individuals, and everyone (including us) who care about them.

And because our cup is running over, let me give a heads up about a primary care clinic being planned by the health department, and set to open in January. Karen Chapman, M.D., and her staff have become crusaders for the need to address the health concerns of those with little to no income and/or insurance. Dr. Chapman will be unveiling her plan in the near future.

Have a joyful holiday season, one and all.