WOW WHAT A HOTEL
You may wonder what in the world are we going to do with a hotel with 287 rooms. These are some of our ideas and thoughts that could come into reality should the city grant our letter of interpretation to approve our usage and the building not be condemned by the state or local government:
• Family and Women’s Transitional Facility: First and foremost we want to have a safe, well secured place that will accommodate families with children and single women who are on a positive track – putting their lives back together.
• Many of these folks are victims of child or spouse abuse and need a safe place.
• Many are waiting on public housing or section 8 housing, which often takes months.
• Some are mentally ill and need our attention and the help of others.
• Some are recovering from physical illnesses or disabilities and need a temporary home.
• Others are recovering from alcohol and drug abuse and need a place to continue a positive path: a place where sobriety and working a 12 step program are encouraged.
• College and Career Floors: We are planning to set aside two floors for people who have a proven track record and who are intent on entering college or technical school. This facility will offer a space for women to go full time to school, attend case management, and receive tutoring and many support services. Most of our women have lost hope of this type of opportunity, however with the proper support from the city on usage these women will be on their way to a better job, breaking the poverty cycle and given a once in a lifetime chance. An added benefit is that a college exists next door.
• Child Care for Homeless Children: We have operated a child care center since the early 90’s. We faithfully drive a bus from shelter to shelter in Louisville and pick up children to provide free child care to mothers and fathers looking for jobs, have medical appointments or other pressing needs. Yes, the kids at Wayside also stay in the child care, but many others come in on the bus each day and then are taken back to their respective shelter in the afternoon. To start this at the hotel we need a conditional use permit, again needing city approval. This center is one of a handful serving homeless children in our country. Our city should be proud of this opportunity and support its move to the hotel.
• Permanent Supportive Housing for Women: We currently have six apartments on our Market Street site and the women would love to move to the hotel. However, even though these women are mentally or physically disabled and need the Mission and the permanent supportive housing to survive and stay off the street, our hands are tied until the city gives us approval.
• Homeless Veteran’s Housing for Women and Families: We have a grant through the VA that is for veterans with families and women veterans who need a place to stay temporarily, however once again this program is on hold. Women who have fought for our country are blocked from moving due to the decisions our local government has made or should I say failed to make.
• Chapel and Bible Study: We are a Christian Mission and our guests are always offered a weekly chapel and often Bible Studies during the week. Spiritual growth is central to developing hope in the midst of despair. Prayer and worship keeps us focused on meaning and give our lives purpose and direction.
• Art Gallery – Our current art gallery, “Wayside Expressions” will be moved from its Market Street site to a ball room located on the first floor of the hotel. This gallery has been a part of the Market Street First Friday Gallery Hop for several years and shows art from local artist as well as art from homeless people. It is a regular stop for serious art enthusiasts.
We think these programs will take up about half the building. Below are some additional ideas, some in discussion, other committed and waiting on a green light from our local government.
• We have been in conversation with the Coalition for the Homeless about renting seven offices for their staff and programs.
• We have had serious discussions with another non-profit’s board that helps low income families that have family members in local hospitals. This program provides rooms and support programs to family members dealing with loved ones in crisis.
• We have had serious discussions with representatives from the homeless health care service providers about leasing a floor to provide respite or recovery care to homeless people needing time to recover form health problems.
• We have submitted a bid to U of L to use two floors for medical support office space. The bid contract was withdrawn and will likely be re-announced in the near future. Of course, even if we were awarded the contract we would need city approval of our plans.
• We have spoken with several smaller non-profits who would like to have a room for office space. Again we need the city to approve our request.
• We are planning to open a Christian Coffee Shop in the former Brick’s Lounge. We have a committee that has met a number of times but will likely only proceed when we know we will be able to move our shelter operations.
• We are planning a four or five dollar plate lunch meal, similar to the closed Miller Café that will be open to the public, bringing back the old character of Broadway.
• We have plans to hold special hotel room or floor rental during Derby.
• We will rent meeting and ballroom space to businesses. To other similar non-profits, we plan to share this building’s meeting rooms and ballrooms, allowing others to benefit so that their programs can do good work in our community.
o We recently rented one meeting room to a local architect firm that had nearly one hundred guests. They were very pleased with the hotel and the great parking.
o We are in conversation with several non-profits about supplying free meeting space for upcoming conventions.
Some people wonder, “Is this building too big?” I think it is just right. As you can see with the proper city governmental support, great things can happen. In New York a program called Common Ground took an old, 600-room hotel and did something very similar to what we are planning. They partnered with businesses like Ben and Jerry’s and opened restaurants to the public while staffing them with their supportive housing residents. The interesting thing about this is that it happened in TIMES SQUARE, right in the middle of downtown. This could be a reality in Louisville as well if we can get government approval to proceed.
Another side note about the BIG building is that we are use to lots of square footage under many, many roofs at our old campus on Market Street. Although this building has its headaches for general operation, it is nothing like the hodgepodge of mechanical and electrical systems we fought with on Market Street. The building was built by the late Al Schneider and he did a wonderful job. The design is unbelievable and the electrical and mechanical systems are all central. We have hired a technician to maintain these systems and we have an army of volunteers that are waiting in the wings. If God allows us to keep the hotel, many lives will be helped and saved by the services waiting to be provided.
Will our families and women be a problem for the neighborhood? NO WAY. Our people are good people, they are in need, and the children are beautiful and full of love. They just need a little help. When they checked into the hotel for the first night I told them that some people in the area will be afraid of them because when they think of a homeless person, they picture a middle-aged male with an alcohol/drug problem. They think you will bring that element into the area. I say you need to be careful in the neighborhood. Stay in where it is safe and go out only during daylight hours. Keep your children with you at all times. The reality is that you will bring stability to the neighborhood. You will become students at the neighboring college and you will operate the coffee shop and restaurant providing a service to the public. You will be the employees of neighboring businesses and people who use the library, the YMCA and the parks. You will get on your feet and eventually move to an apartment and be a productive citizen in our community. When my wife and I walk the hallways of the new hotel, you can hear a pin drop, every once in a while, you may hear a baby cry. My guess is, this is the quietest hotel in the city.
This could be a beautiful building full of ministry. Shelter care, child care, supportive housing, VA services, offices for other non-profits, a restaurant and coffee shop open to the public, college and career support that few homeless people ever thought possible. It would be a shame to see these opportunities go by the Wayside.
Let’s save the dreams and ideas that could be a reality in just a few short months. Let’s get government working for its people. Pray for the miracle; pray that eyes will be opened and hearts touched.
