First Stop preparing to expand, but funds still needed

First Stop, Inc., the local non-profit whose goal is to help the area’s homeless achieve sustained independent living, is expanding its facilities at 206 Stokes Street.

Meanwhile, with the $3 million remodeling project set to get underway within 1-2 weeks, case workers have moved out but will continue to operate from a temporary home on the property.

First Stop is also leasing space a couple of blocks away from the nonprofit The Livin’ Room at 2820 Governors Drive to provide Day Center services, where ShowerUp facilities will be available. The Outreach Team from the Episcopal Church of the Nativity will provide laundry, pastoral and counseling services.

“We’re leasing two buildings to work and maintain operations,’’ said Jennfier Geist, Executive Director of First Stop. “During the construction project, one of the buildings is a modular trailer on the back of our main property that our case managers are working out of, but we’re also renting space from a nonprofit called The Livin’ Room to run our Day Center operations.

“That’s where we’ll do the meals, breakfast, lunch, showers and laundry. And we have a case manager there for walk-ins. So, we’re working out of two spaces temporarily.’’

First Stop’s $3 million renovation funding has come from supporters such as the City of Huntsville’s Community Development Department; federal, state and local grants; and businesses, churches and individual donors.

However, $800,000 is still needed so First Stop is launching a capital campaign called “Largest City, Biggest Heart’’ at https://firststop.org/biggestheart/.

“I am extremely grateful for the support that we have received for this renovation project to expand our services and facilities,’’ Geist said. “What an amazing community we live in with so many people and organizations dedicated to ending homelessness.’

As for the current setup, First Stop’s partnership with The Livin’ Room was a natural. The Livin’ Room also caters to the homeless and veterans. Among the services it provides is church worship and Bible studies.

The Livin’ Room features 3,000 square feet of meeting space, including two smaller meeting rooms, with a 3,000-square foot warehouse. Local service groups can rent space by visiting https://www.thelivinroomhsv.org or calling 929-256-2820. A daily schedule can also be viewed on the website.

The Livin’ Room uses its Nashville-based mobile ShowerUp only on the weekends, so its available for weekday use by First Stop clients.

“A lot of the folks that we work with were already going there for church, and a lot of the people like their church members were already our clients,’’ Geist said. “So it was just a total blessing that it’s worked out.’’

For more information, please visit First Stop’s website here.

Featured image provided by First Stop, Inc.