News
ENLARGE
Among the hundreds of people who streamed through “Utah's Place” for a sneak peek Saturday afternoon were more than 40 Hospitality House guests for whom the opening of a permanent homeless shelter can't come soon enough.
The 6,500-square-foot facility at 1262 Sutton Way in Grass Valley will become the organization's permanent home, providing year-round overnight sleeping quarters for as many as 54 guests.
“We are like a family, and that's what this place will be,” said Vadi Zaitsev, as he took a break from playing the piano for a snack in the dining hall. “This will be a place away from trouble, off the streets ... It's good, it brings people together (so they can) feel more comfortable.”
Hospitality House, currently a nomadic shelter that transports guests to host churches for dinners and overnight shelter, hosted an open house Saturday for the public to view its new building, which closed escrow Oct. 13.
The building, formerly owned by the Veritas Church, will be renovated and will require approximately $250,000 in donated labor, materials and financing to complete structural work. Executive Director Cindy Maple estimated the work should be completed by the end of April.
The renovations will include a commercial kitchen, as well as the revamping of the upstairs worship hall space into three dormitories equipped with bunk beds — one for men, one for women and one for families. Bathrooms upstairs will feature showers, and a commercial kitchen will be installed so that meals can be prepared onsite.
The new building will provide space for counseling with social service workers, and accommodations for group meetings and life skills training.
Utah's Place, named after the late Hospitality House co-founder and homeless advocate Bruce “Utah” Phillips, also will include a memorial library featuring some of his books, papers and music, said Phillips' widow and current board president, Joanna Robinson.
“I hope the community can have meetings (there), to plan things like affordable housing and other actions that affect the homeless,” Robinson said.
To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4229.
The 6,500-square-foot facility at 1262 Sutton Way in Grass Valley will become the organization's permanent home, providing year-round overnight sleeping quarters for as many as 54 guests.
“We are like a family, and that's what this place will be,” said Vadi Zaitsev, as he took a break from playing the piano for a snack in the dining hall. “This will be a place away from trouble, off the streets ... It's good, it brings people together (so they can) feel more comfortable.”
Hospitality House, currently a nomadic shelter that transports guests to host churches for dinners and overnight shelter, hosted an open house Saturday for the public to view its new building, which closed escrow Oct. 13.
The building, formerly owned by the Veritas Church, will be renovated and will require approximately $250,000 in donated labor, materials and financing to complete structural work. Executive Director Cindy Maple estimated the work should be completed by the end of April.
The renovations will include a commercial kitchen, as well as the revamping of the upstairs worship hall space into three dormitories equipped with bunk beds — one for men, one for women and one for families. Bathrooms upstairs will feature showers, and a commercial kitchen will be installed so that meals can be prepared onsite.
The new building will provide space for counseling with social service workers, and accommodations for group meetings and life skills training.
Utah's Place, named after the late Hospitality House co-founder and homeless advocate Bruce “Utah” Phillips, also will include a memorial library featuring some of his books, papers and music, said Phillips' widow and current board president, Joanna Robinson.
“I hope the community can have meetings (there), to plan things like affordable housing and other actions that affect the homeless,” Robinson said.
To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4229.
