A 26-unit shelter for people experiencing homelessness is planned for the former Sunset Motel on Columbus Road in Athens, and Hocking Athens Perry Community Action says construction remains on schedule for a May opening, with some units possibly available earlier.
HAPCAP, which is managing the conversion and will operate the shelter, expects units in a newer building set apart from the original motel to be ready first, executive director Kelly Hatas said. According to the report, the project appeared at risk a year earlier because construction bids repeatedly exceeded the budget.
Every unit is to have a kitchenette with a small refrigerator, microwave and sink. The former motel office and owner's residence, located between the two original wings, is being converted into shared space with a full kitchen, and Hatas said the agency hopes eventually to hold weekly community meals.
Apart from one family unit made of two connected rooms, units will hold one or two beds, and guests will not be paired with strangers. Hatas said that leaves some beds empty but gives residents more privacy and security, which she said matters particularly for people who have experienced trauma.
Stays will have no fixed time limit, but each guest will work on a plan for moving into permanent housing. HAPCAP plans to hire staff and work with partner organizations on food, health care, counseling and job training; Jessica Stroh, the agency's community services director, said each person's path will differ.
Officials pointed to obstacles. The median home price in Athens County from January through August exceeded $271,000, beyond what many local earners can afford, and Hatas said a lack of affordable units could create a bottleneck at the shelter. The facility will draw from a seven-county region, and Stroh said people who are unhoused often want to remain in their own counties near services they know. Valerie Stillson, HAPCAP's chief development officer, described the shelter as one step in a broader effort.