16
Nov
2020
07
Oct
2020
Take a Look Inside the Emergency Shelter
The Kitchen, Inc. Emergency Shelter opened in November 2018 with 13 apartments and a 50-bed capacity. Thirteen apartments serve individuals, families, Veterans, and youth, while one apartment is reserved for respite care. Since opening, 119 people have been temporarily housed in the shelter. Designed with Family in Mind Unlike most congregate shelters, The Kitchen, Inc. Emergency Shelter provides each family with space of their own: a kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, and a small living area. This allows families to focus on securing permanent housing without worrying about the safety of their children or the security of their possessions. In the COVID-19…
09
Sep
2020
A Look at Our New Home
It is fitting to be moving The Kitchen, Inc. to a new home when much of what we do here is help folks find affordable, permanent housing. We are excited to start this new chapter in The Kitchen, Inc.’s long history of serving this community. The Sam F. and June S. Hamra Family Support Services Building will be the new home of The Kitchen, Inc’s support services team. This includes case managers in our Community Housing and Home at Last programs, the housing office that works with local landlords to find safe, affordable housing for our clients, our support nurse,…
02
Sep
2020
Have You Seen the Sign? The Kitchen, Inc. is Moving!
The new O’Reilly Family Campus will house the Sam F. and June S. Hamra Family Support Services Building and the Emergency Shelter. Decades of History For 37 years, The Kitchen, Inc. has been there for our neighbors in need. Sister Lorraine Biebel began serving meals to the homeless in 1983. From that first meal until today, The Kitchen, Inc. has evolved from a soup kitchen into a leader in our community providing stability and purpose to people who are homeless. Part of that evolution includes moving from The Kitchen, Inc.’s long-time campus on Commercial Street. Building a Dream Our capital…
26
Aug
2020
A Family in Crisis
A Single father and his 8-year-old twin daughters were homeless before finding The Kitchen, Inc. A Single Father The father is originally from Chicago and moved to Springfield when he was 20. He was living with his girlfriend before she started using drugs. Her drug use forced him to leave their house. When his daughters were 5 years old, their mother dropped them off at Isabel’s House. Isabel’s House contacted him and he was able to gain custody of the girls. He and the girls lived with his mother while he was enrolled in an automotive program at Ozarks Technical…
19
Aug
2020
Meet Patty, a Resident of Beacon Village
Homeless, Not Hopeless Patty was homeless, struggling with alcoholism and living on the streets when she was referred to The Kitchen, Inc.’s Community Housing program. Through The Kitchen, Inc., Patty was able to sign a lease for an apartment at Beacon Village, one of The Kitchen, Inc.’s affordable housing properties. Working Towards Sobriety Once housed, Patty began working on the barriers that led to her homelessness. Alcoholism was a huge barrier to living a healthy, stable life. Her case manager, Nancy Galetti, connected Patty to MSU Care and Burrell Behavioral Health. Part of Patty’s treatment includes injections once a month…