MadisonHome provides a 'weight off shoulders'

Mar. 11—According to a woman named Rachel, being a part of the MadisonHome emergency shelter program has been a "weight off of her shoulders."

Rachel, whose last name has been omitted for privacy reasons, has been using the program — which offers a warm place to stay, meals and transit passes — for two years in order to have shelter, as well as receive materials that help her get by day-to-day.

MadisonHome is an emergency shelter, non-profit program which operates during December through March and partners with outside organizations to provide meals, transportation, health care, and necessities to those experiencing homelessness, or housing insecurity.

Rachel said she found out about the program while walking behind the Madison County Public Library, just across the street from the facility.

"(The MadisonHome volunteers), they bend over backwards," she said. "Richmond has never had anything like this. Having them is a blessing, because we get to stay out of the cold."

Aside from the shelter provided, Rachel said another item which has been crucial for her, are hygiene products the program also provides.

"They have done this on their own. They are wonderful people and I am just blessed to have them," Rachel said.

The same could likely be said for nearly 30 other individuals who use the emergency shelter program daily.

According to Reid Singleton, a board member with the non-profit, the group sees all kinds of individuals who use their services — men, women, elderly, and even young adults who have aged out of the foster care system with nowhere to turn.

"We see people who have aged out of foster care and that kills me the most ... They get out of foster care and turn 18 and they may not even be out of high school and then they don't have a home," Singleton said. "It is hard for me to wrap my brain around some of the issues we see here."

While he said there have been about two individuals with cases such as this over the past three years, Singleton said even one, is too much.

According to Victoria Benge with Madison and Clark County Case Appointed Special Advocates, who help abused and neglected children of the system, while she is not aware of any of her CASA cases utilizing the MadisonHome program once leaving the system, she said it is commonplace for some.

"We do see a lot of people who age out of the system who end up homeless and a lot of it is because once you are 18 in the system, you can either recommit to the Cabinet of Family Services who provide housing and education and all of that, but a lot of kids don't want to do that because they have been let down by the system already and are ready to be out of it," Benge explained. "They are entering the world at 18 with no family, no support system, and a lot of times they end up homeless."

No matter their background, age, gender or how they got there, Singleton explained the goal of MadisonHome is to provide services to anyone who walks in the doors at 105 Fifth Street in downtown Richmond.

During the 2020-2021 year, the group was able to house 127 different guests and serve 4,953 meals and book 1,568 rooms. This year, it is expected that there will be 8,190 meals served in this 13 week period. That would be approximately 2,730 rooms booked.

MadisonHome is open December 15 through March 15 for emergency shelter services, which are provided through a partnership with the city and Relax Inn.

The city assists in financing the emergency housing program through the winter with the help of an Emergency Solutions Grant — CoronaVirus (ESG-CV) from the Kentucky Housing Corporation in the amount of $50,000 in 2020.

This year, the city has utilized American Rescue Plan Act funds to make available another $50,000 for the 2021-2022 season. These funds are specifically for overnight accommodations.

However, other partnerships with the Madison County Health Department, Kentucky River Foothills, and about 13 area churches who help provide healthcare, meals and transportation.

When individuals arrive at the MadisonHome base on Fifth Street, they are greeted by volunteers, given a screening for COVID-19 or intoxication. During the hour between 5 to 6 p.m. the guests are checked in, given materials from supply rooms, and allowed to wait inside while transportation arrives to shuttle them to the hotel for the evening.

Last week, the participants were able to receive a second dose of their COVID-19 vaccine, doses of Narcan, and other health information.

They also have an opportunity to go to the supply room which keeps tents, bedding, hygiene care, clothes, and other gear, to find anything they may need.

This is where Lisa Leichliter of New Jersey is found, oftentimes with her husband, who helps distribute the goods needed.

When she moved to Richmond, Leichliter said she saw a post on Facebook of someone looking for donations of coats for the program, and eventually found herself returning nightly to be a volunteer.

During her time, the group has gone from using scraps of paper to know who gets what, to creating a spreadsheet of the materials, and who receives them on what night.

This change is one way the group has adapted to offer their services to help those in need.

Since their inception in 2019, the group has become a non-profit, grown the number of individuals they serve as well as volunteers, received updated services they can offer, and found a building they only hope to continue to grow in.

"The bottom floors could be used as transitional housing, because there is going to be a need for people," Singleton said. "The idea is we are hoping to get a much more established group to come in and do really good work because there is just a huge need. It is overwhelming right now. We need the infrastructure and funding in place, and we are looking to get those things, but we will be a bit shy."

Singleton said he believes the group will get there, but the goal is to continue to help people along the way.

"Hopefully the second and third floors will be a place that people will go for an emergency situation or winter shelter to a place they can stay and thrive and have little to no rent as they get vocationally trained, a job, or begin to build up a savings," he said.

While this year's winter shelter program will end on March 15, Singleton said the work will not stop to not only provide the needs necessary to those who are housing insecure, but the work to continue to grow their resources for next year and the years to come.

"We never shut down," Singleton said. "The winter shelter program shuts down, but (MadisonHome) continues to find a way to grow. It's during that down time where we will be able to get more grant writing done. Until we get infrastructure, grant writing and sustainable income, that is when we will be able to excel."

Ultimately, the group's goal is to also develop a more solid continuity of care for the MadisonHome participants.

The idea, he said, was to take care of the emergent need and begin to look through assessment, case management and walk people through the next steps.

"The resources are scattered. It is not easy for someone who is already in a struggling situation to go to five different places and get things taken care of," Singleton said. "Can you get a job without an ID? No. Can you get an ID without a permanent address? No. We see the cycle. ... We are trying to break that cycle."

MadisonHome is open from 5 to 6 p.m. each night at 105 Fifth Street in Richmond. Check-in for the emergency shelter is during that same time frame. Those looking for necessary items can also attend to collect supplies, and food.