Tag: Hospitality Hub

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At Large Opinion

You Got My Name

Photo: Bruce VanWyngarden

Between Manassas and Danny Thomas, just a block from the restored and gilded mansions of Victorian Village, is another village of sorts. It’s the Hospitality Hub, a resource center for those experiencing homelessness in Memphis.

Outside the small office, a line of 10 or 12 men stands, waiting to meet with an outreach advisor, someone who might help them get an ID so they can access their social security checks or a veteran’s pension, someone who can maybe help them find work or shelter or food or medical attention — someone to listen.

As I approach, one of the men asks if I have any work for him. He’s a small, personable fellow, who seems sincere. We chat for a minute. I say I don’t have any work but I might someday, and I start to turn away.

“Well, how you gonna know who I am?” he asks, reasonably enough. He pulls out a photo ID and proudly shows it to me. “Elliot Allen is my name,” he says. “Can you remember it?”

“Yes, I can. I’m gonna record it.” I speak his name into my phone. “Elliot Allen.”

“That’s pretty slick,” he says. “Nice talking to you.”

Kelcey Johnson (Photo: Bruce VanWyngarden)

Hub Director Kelcey Johnson shows me around the place. We walk over to take a look at five mini-homes. “We finished these in early July,” Johnson says, opening the door to one unit. “Four are occupied and we have a possible client for this one.”

The interior is clean and simple and smells of wood. There is a bed, a chair, a picture on the wall, a heater, a small AC unit.

“These are all hardwood inside,” Johnson says. “Walls and floor. Each resident gets a new robe, slippers, sheets. As people are starting this new life journey away from homelessness, we don’t want to put anything old in here.”

I ask Johnson who gets to move into these units.

“The people living here are those who have been chronically homeless, long-time people we’ve known. Their mental and emotional conditions don’t allow them to stay in a shelter. Here, they have their own space, safe from the crowding, safe from the virus. They have a key to their unit and a key to the bathrooms. There is a sense of community in that they are separate but at the same time are together. The case managers are right here for them.”

The Hub provides, as Johnson says, “all the services you need to exit homelessness.” That includes helping clients get a state ID or birth certificate. “It’s something that brings you back into citizenship,” he says. “We do all the navigation with state and federal agencies. We’re also creating income for people through our Warm Welcome program. Every day, up to 22 people go out to work for three or four hours. They get $50 and lunch. It’s great for them and great for the city because it’s a big step in exiting homelessness.”

Johnson says the hardest people to get out of homelessness are those who have aged out of foster care. “These people have nothing, no support, no family to help them. We’re working with a woman now who fled her foster care at 14 and has been on her own ever since. She’s basically homeless because she’s never known how to find an apartment or sign a lease or do applications or get a birth certificate or social security card. She needs someone to guide her through these basic processes.”

This week, the Hub celebrated the start of construction on its new 32-bed women’s shelter. The organization also hopes to increase the number of its mini-units. “If this gets scaled up, it could be a national model,” says Johnson.

There is good work being done here, and it’s palpable.

As I leave, I spot my friend. “See ya, Elliot,” I say.

“There you go,” he says. “You got my name.”

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News News Blog

Downtown Church Opens Temporary Homeless Shelter for Women

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

Justin Fox Burks

Room In The Inn ended its 2019/2020 season early due to coronavirus.

One of the few shelters for homeless women in Memphis had to shut its doors last week due to the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

Room In The Inn, which places homeless individuals at churches across the city for the night and provides them with a meal and a place to sleep, and sometimes access to showers and clothes closets, ended its 2019/2020 season early.

The shelter, which seeks to accommodate women first, is typically open from November through March, but Monday, March 16th, was its last day of operation this year, Lisa Anderson, executive director of RITI, said.

“Even with all of the extra precautions, the suggested compliance is that we practice social distancing and avoid gatherings in groups, especially in vulnerable populations,” Anderson said. “RITI guests are in this group. Also, many of our volunteers are in age groups and health groups that are at risk.”

The night after RITI shut its doors, First Presbyterian Church opened its doors to operate a temporary emergency shelter for women at the request of the Hospitality Hub. Since Tuesday, the church has had about 20 guests each night.

Kori Phillips McMurtry, pastor of First Presbyterian, said “it’s hard to say what ‘stay at home’ means for people without homes. But we are doing what we can while trying to meet the need of this vulnerable population whose safety net and services are shifting dramatically and disappearing day by day.”

Phillips McMurty said the church is working with others in the community to develop a more sustainable shelter option during the COVID-19 outbreak. In the meantime, at First Presbyterian’s shelter, Phillips McMurtry said staff has been following health official’s recommendations about handwashing, spacing beds six feet apart, and preparing food with the “utmost cleanliness.”

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A concern of Phillips McMurtry is that it is becoming more difficult for homeless individuals to find meals. The church served over 250 people on Sunday and this is twice as many people as the church usually serves at its weekly soup kitchen, she said.

The Memphis Mission Union, a reliable source of meals for the homeless, serves over 313,000 breakfasts, lunches, and dinners each year. But now, the agency has had to limit its meals only to those who are registered guests of the shelter, drastically reducing the number of people served a day.

However, the Mission’s men’s shelter remains open and the agency said it is taking precautionary measures, “knowing that our homeless clients may suffer from a variety of chronic and acute conditions that may affect their immune system response.”

The agency is following the coronavirus infection prevention plan guidelines laid out by the Citygate Network, a group of organizations that provide resources and education to agencies working with vulnerable populations. The plan includes guidelines on disinfection, sanitation, and isolation of sick individuals.

The Hospitality Hub, which is located in Downtown Memphis and provides a range of services to homeless individuals, remains open, but is operating with a “skeleton crew,” said Kelcey Johnson, executive director of the Hub.

Johnson said the Hub’s office will remain open to provide essential services. Intake and counseling services have been suspended to reduce social interaction, but visitors still have access to their personal lockers, restrooms, coffee, and mail.

Dan Springer, deputy director of media affairs for the mayor’s office said the city is “actively coordinating” with the county, the Hub, Community Alliance for the Homeless, and other agencies to monitor the capacity and needs of shelters in the city.

He advises people who are experiencing homelessness to contact the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association’s hotline at 901-529-4545 for shelter alternatives.

A recently published study from researchers at University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, and Boston University found that homeless individuals who contract COVID-19, are twice as likely to need hospitalization, two to four times as likely to need critical care, and two to three times more likely to die compared to the general population.

The study also predicts the number of additional shelter beds each county in the country will need based on the estimated number of homeless individuals there. In Shelby County, there would need to be 433 additional shelter beds, which would cost just over $13 million.

The study explains the need for additional beds this way: “A cornerstone of the strategy for reducing the infection and transmission rates among the homeless population is to find immediate shelter for those living unsheltered and incorporate social distancing — of approximately 100 square feet per person — into existing emergency shelters. To impose social distancing within shelters and transitional housing, we assume a 50 percent reduction in current density.”

Read more from the study here.


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News News Blog

City, County Look to End Street-Level Homelessness With New Facility

CREDIT: Full Build

Full Build

Rendering of planned facility

A new homeless shelter for women and expanded programs to combat homelessness in the city were announced by city and county officials Thursday

At a joint meeting of the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission Thursday, officials detailed plans for an $8 million relocation and expansion of the Hospitality Hub, an organization that assists homeless men and women, providing customized care, resources, or referrals in partnership with other organizations.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland who was at Thursday’s meeting said homelessness is a “community issue and what we’re bringing to you today is a community solution.”

The solution addresses the lack of emergency shelter beds for homeless women and of assistance for the homeless population during the day,” Strickland said.

The new Hub, which will move from a spot near Second and Beale to the former City of Memphis Public Service Inspection Station on Washington, will house a resource center, an outdoor day plaza, and a women’s shelter.

The women’s shelter will be built to house at least 32 women, officials said. Kelcey Johnson, executive director of the Hub said the shelter is meant to house women for four to nine days, but in some cases, women might need to stay up to 30 days.

Johnson said there is a significant need for shelters here that serve women: “I never have to say to a man ‘tonight you have to sleep outside, but I frequently have to say to a woman ‘tonight you have to sleep outside because there’s no bed for you.’”

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Based on data from the Hub, 37 percent of Memphis’ homeless population are women, but only 6 percent of the beds in shelters are open to women, city council chairman Kemp Conrad noted.

“A barrier-free facility for homeless women in our community does not exist, and it is unacceptable,” Conrad said.

The outdoor day plaza, to be created in partnership with Youngblood Studio, will be a place that the homeless individuals can relax and rest.

The plaza will include shade, seating, art, play areas, a garden, and a stage. The Hub also plans to activate the space with music, food, and art programs. The space will serve as a heating and cooling center as well.

The plaza is expected to be open by summer.

Full Build

Layout of planned facility

Private funding totaling $5 million has already been secured for the facility. The city and county are both planning to add additional funds to that each year through 2021 of up to $1.2 million.

The goal of this new effort is to eliminate street-level homelessness within 30 months, officials said.

The city council and county commission will vote on a resolution confirming funding allocations at their next respective meetings in May.

Categories
News The Fly-By

New J. Brooks Coffee Will Help the Homeless

CREDIT: Alexandra Pusateri

At the Midtown Muddy’s Coffee & Bake Shop last Saturday morning, throngs of customers filed in to get their morning cup of joe. But what awaited them was the chance to vote on a new roast for J. Brooks Coffee Roasters that will benefit a Memphis homeless service provider.

J. Brooks has been supplying the Hospitality HUB with coffee for years. Anyone, particularly people experiencing homelessness, can walk into the HUB, located at 82 N. Second, and get a free cup of coffee, no strings attached.

Now, J. Brooks is adding a new coffee to its line called “HUB,” named after the organization. Two dollars from the sale of each bag will benefit the HUB.

The HUB provides free services to people who are experiencing homelessness. Guests can receive a temporary mailing address, which can help them secure jobs. Guests also have access to restrooms, snacks, telephones, computers, and lockers, as well as counseling services and assistance in obtaining birth certificates and other documents. They also provide vouchers for temporary shelters.

“We’re really impressed with them,” said John Pitman, the roaster for J. Brooks. “They’ve got a fantastic board. The program is just spot-on. It’s an honor and a point of pride for us to be associated with them. I think they’re making a tremendous difference in the city. They’re doing things that I can’t do. So what I can do, I’ll do to help them.”

Alexandra Pusateri

Votes being cast for coffee at Muddy’s

Last Saturday, visitors to Muddy’s sampled and voted on the roast that will benefit the HUB. They were given a choice between three medium roasts. The first choice — roast A — was mild, the strength seemingly low. Roast B, a new roast for J. Brooks, tasted bitter and tart, while roast C evened out between the two and tasted like a complex, rich cup of coffee.

Votes were cast by placing small white balls into Mason jars next to each pot of coffee. The winner was a single-origin Mexico Chiapas Turquesa.

Pitman said having people vote on the HUB flavor “engenders involvement.”

“People feel like they’re personally involved, which they are,” he said. “It’s a great engagement for community, to build a sense of leadership and do some good in this city. If people can say, ‘I was a part of that,’ it just ups the ante. It really communicates a consistent message. The HUB is there to make a difference in Memphis and involve people, either on the receiving end as well as people on the giving end.”

And according to Beatrice Kimmons, the executive director of the Hospitality HUB, coffee is important to the work.

“People don’t realize that we take for granted the small things,” she said. “A cup of coffee at the HUB starts a relationship. It makes people feel like, ‘Okay, you’re not trying to push me into any change. I’m getting coffee.’ That gives us a chance to talk to the person, network with the person, and hopefully develop some changes in their lives.”

“The HUB is a vital part of the Memphis community,” she said. “The HUB is able to give what one individual or agency can’t give. We give the whole scope. We have the time because of our counselors. We’re simply saying to the community: Don’t forget the HUB. Continue to support us so we can make some changes in people’s lives and help end homelessness.”

J. Brooks’ HUB flavor will be available this week at John’s Pantry, Trolley Stop Market, Miss Cordelia’s Grocery, both locations of Muddy’s Bake Shop, and the SuperLo on Spottswood.

Categories
News The Fly-By

Q & A with Kim Moss, New CEO of the Hospitality Hub

In late January, the city’s annual homeless head count revealed a major drop in the number of unsheltered people on Memphis streets. Only 78 unsheltered (meaning not staying in a homeless shelter) people were counted, which is down from 259 in 2012.

Various coordinated citywide efforts to house the homeless have been credited for the drop. And one way homeless people are connecting with housing opportunities is through the Hospitality Hub, a resource center that links people with the services they need.

The Hub has a new CEO, Kim Moss, who has worked with the homeless populations in Memphis and New Orleans for 30 years. Having served as director of Friends for Life in Memphis and Project Lazarus in New Orleans (both nonprofits with a focus on helping low-income people living with HIV/AIDS), Moss brings years of experience dealing with some of the most vulnerable victims of the HIV epidemic. Moss took over the role of CEO at the Hub in early February after moving back to Memphis to be closer to his new grandson. — Bianca Phillips

Kim Moss

Flyer: What does the Hospitality Hub do?

Kim Moss: We’re the point of entry into the homeless service delivery system for single people, male and female. We help them connect with the various organizations that will provide them with the services they need. We also provide substance abuse counseling. We have an employment readiness program.

And we provide the practical stuff, like giving homeless people an address. We have lockers where people can store their belongings. They can have their mail sent here. We have telephones they can use to make calls. We have computers where they can search for jobs and have an email address.

A lot of people don’t have an ID, and you have to have an ID to stay in the shelter. We help them get an ID, and that has to start with getting a birth certificate. That literally can mean playing detective to track these birth certificates down. We pay for that, and we pay for some nights in the shelter for some people we’re working with.

You have years of experience working with low-income people with HIV/AIDS. Why is it so important to get those people housed?

Without stable housing, you’re not as likely to take your medicine on a regular basis. [That] not only puts you at risk for illnesses, but if you’re sexually active, you tend to have a higher viral load so the possibility of infecting other people is higher.

So many [homeless people] are severely and persistently mentally ill. And many have a substance abuse problem, so when folks are not functioning on a level where they’re making good decisions and [are] using drugs and alcohol, that can lead to people having less inhibitions. So a lot more unprotected behavior goes on. The risk of HIV infection in the homeless population is quite high.

Aren’t there some homeless people who don’t want help?

In my 30-year history of working with the population, I’ve learned that most of those are the people who are suffering from a mental illness. Someone in their right cognitive capacity does not choose that kind of life. It’s a very hard life.

Do we have enough resources to help all of those mentally ill homeless people?

I am saddened that 30 years after I started [working in this field], things are actually worse when it comes to the mental health system. I believe it’s just a tragedy the lack of service that we provide for our mentally ill population. And so many of them become homeless because of that. It’s a national problem. It’s due to [lack of] funding and politics. It’s just not a priority for our country. So we have all these mentally ill people walking around or using our jails as a mental health system.

What do you have planned for the future of the hub?

We want to further increase our outreach and make sure that we’re not just sitting here waiting for people to come to us, but that we’re taking advantage of opportunities and the expertise of the folks we have on staff.