DANBURY — Dawn Fawcett fields phone calls each day from females wanting for a position to continue to be with their youngsters.
“There is a significant have to have for houses at the moment,” mentioned Fawcett, the new housing manager for Amos Household, an organization shaped in 1986 by 5 church buildings that offers transitional housing for women and small children.
But for now, she have to direct them to the 2-1-1 hotline to link them to housing expert services.
Amos Property has been closed since final June because of to a renovation venture, and the upgrades have been hindered by a pipe burst in February that caused h2o damage. With a point out grant only covering part of the do the job, the organization is in determined need to have of donations to end the challenge. COVID-19 has prevented the staff from holding its once-a-year fundraiser breakfast, a critical donation-associated event for the group, for the earlier two several years, Fawcett stated.
The nonprofit been given some enable on Thursday from volunteers with Keller Williams Realty, who painted the property and did other perform all over the facility as component of the company’s nationwide local community service day.
About 25 to 30 volunteers ended up envisioned at Amos House, with many others volunteering at Cornerstone Gardens in Ridgefield, the Carver Foundation in Norwalk and with the Stamford Land Conservation Believe in, claimed April Furey, of Keller Williams.
She explained Amos Household as a “great nonprofit” for the way it supports single moms and their children.
“It truly is like that transition among living in a shelter and taking the next move to unbiased dwelling,” Furey claimed. “Keller Williams is just truly enthusiastic to be ready to help them mainly because they are going via a large renovation, so I know they are hunting ahead to reopening in the fall.”
Amos Dwelling received a $150,000 grant from the condition Division of Housing to update the home. But that does not cover the entire value of the project, Fawcett claimed.
Right after the water injury, the firm resolved to switch the flooring to make it more prolonged-lasting and simpler to clear, fairly than replacing the carpet, she mentioned. Even so, insurance policy does not include that. The smoke detectors, safety technique, and old desktops and household furniture must also be replaced.
The house already has a new roof and new windows. Critical heat pumps were changed, and previous trees had been removed. The kitchen and laundry room are becoming upgraded.
Fawcett grew to become the housing supervisor in March. A new govt director, Jennifer Seeley, is predicted to get started next month. The firm appears to seek the services of a different full-time staffer and a scenario manager.
Amos House is thinking about featuring sponsorships for rooms, so that folks could contribute a sure amount of money to fill the room with new furnishings and make a plaque on the doorway with their identify. Fawcett urged neighborhood customers to donate on the organization’s site.
A lot more volunteers will be needed as the business receives closer to its target reopening in the drop to bring home furnishings inside of the dwelling, Fawcett said.
The facility has 25 rooms and can dwelling up to five families, relying on the household dynamic.
Instead than a standard shelter, Amos Property offers consumers with transitional housing and resources, these as occupation expertise and counseling, they need to have to turn out to be impartial.
“We give them the applications they require and instruction so that they can be on their possess,” Fawcett claimed.
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