Downtown Library begins plans to also house health services

Jul. 12—Northwest Health Services and St. Joseph Downtown Library announced their partnership Thursday to expand health services for the homeless community.

The partnership will replace the current Downtown Health Center clinic on Sixth Street. After moving, the clinic will be located in the downstairs portion of the library, at 927 Felix St., while administrative offices will be on the top floor.

Both organizations say this is an effort to not only help the community, but also to preserve an important location in St. Joseph's history.

"The library building offered us a great strategic location from which to serve the homeless, and the administrative space was basically designed for needs exactly like ours, so nothing we need to do will impact the historical integrity of the building, which was important to all of us," said Matt Younger, CEO of Northwest Health Services, in a press release. "In fact, we're already working with Rosin Preservation out of Kansas City to uncover some of the historical portions that were updated over the years."

Both parties say they are excited to expand their services.

"So, we're very excited to invite them into this building and to help us maintain it," said Mary Beth Revels, the executive director of the Downtown Library. "And offer services that our community. We love that we both serve St. Joseph and the wider area, and we'll be providing library services and they'll be providing health services."

Revels says it will take about a year until the big move is complete, but until then, Northwest Health Services will be renovating spaces to ensure they are suitable to assist the community in St. Joseph.