The Nikiski Shelter of Hope homeless shelter is holding a ribbon cutting and open house this afternoon from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event is open to the public and is an opportunity for residents to tour the facility. It’s located at 50720 Kenai Spur Highway, 3.1 miles north of the Andeavor/Tesoro Facility in Nikiski on the Kenai Spur Highway.
The Kenai Peninsula’s first homeless shelter opened up initially in December. Building amenities include 14 total bedrooms, including nine large double or single occupancy rooms and five smaller single occupancy rooms, with the potential to add additional cots and bunk beds. There are seven total restrooms and six showers, a TV room upstairs with three couches, a kitchen and large dining hall, and a mud room and outdoor area. Meals will be provided at least once a day by the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank.
Love INC will run and care for the facility. Leslie Rohr, Executive Director of Love INC on the Kenai Peninsula said that they want to help those who need to use the facility. In doing so, they will provide or connect people with the wraparound services they need to become stable.
Kathy Gensel, President of Bridges Community Resource Network tells KSRM:
December, we had our first guests there the last week in December, which is what we needed to have happened for the grants that we received to purchase it, but since then, I think it’s been a great asset to the Kenai Peninsula. Obviously for those folks that have been able to use it and have warmth and shelter and food. I know there’s several community and church groups that have been going out there taking food and sitting down and having an evening meal with the folks that are there playing games and stuff like that. It’s been great that the community has been so involved in it.”
The purchase funds for the building was covered by Rasmuson Foundation and Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI). The total purchase price was around $360,000 for the entire facility. In addition, $50,000 was donated from the George Pollard Estate through Kasilof Community Church for operating costs.
Nikiski Offices and Lodging Information Packet (1)