Church Assists Jessamine County Homeless Coalition with Surmounting Debt
Impending closure averted
In an extraordinary manifestation of community support, a local church in Jessamine County, Kentucky, has stepped forward to assume the debt of the county’s Homeless Coalition, saving it, at least temporarily, from what seemed like an inevitable shutdown. This occurred at the start of the week when the Homeless Coalition was foreseen to be about 40 days from closing its doors. The Coalition was under a financial crisis, unable to pay their monthly bills worth $18,000, indicated Johnny Templin, the Executive Director of the Jessamine County Homeless Coalition.
Expanded services led to financial strain
The Coalition, which offers an emergency stay along with a 90-day case management program, had decided to augment their services by establishing the ‘Center for Growth and Hope’, to address the untapped needs in the county. To facilitate this, they purchased property at 506 Broadway Street. However, the scheme went awry due to a coupla of funding avenues and donation streams drying up.
Polluted land adds to woes
The severity of the situation escalated when they decided to sell the Broadway property but found out that the soil was tainted with arsenic levels eight times beyond the permissible limits as per federal EPA norms. Subsequently, the county coalition has filed a lawsuit against the city of Nicholasville and Jessamine County Schools, alleging the previous owners of non-disclosure about the soil contamination, thereby leaving the property valueless and unsafe.
A timely intervention by the church
Amid the muddle, a beacon of hope has emerged on the horizon. Christ Embassy Now Church, a local organization managing its food pantry along with a weekly meal program, has stepped forward to assist. The church has pledged to infuse cash into the Center for Growth and Hope, along with a commitment to morph it into another non-profit. Furthermore, they have taken on the responsibility of the Coalition’s debts. No doubt, this has come as a godsend for Templin and those who benefit from their services.
An empathetic mission continues
Motivated by the Church’s action, Templin confidently stated, “We’ve always been about a hand-up.” While they wait for a resolution pertaining to the property’s issues, this generous assistance from the church has brought a sigh of relief for the whole coalition, mitigating their immediate financial distress. It’s also a stark reminder of community strength during challenging times and of the power of collective action.
As this convoluted narrative unfolds, we aim to provide an update after soliciting comments from the Mayor’s office, which was closed when the lawsuit was received.
