You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'homeless' tag.
The homeless in Northwest Arkansas may find a new home in Historic Downtown Rogers or the abandoned St. Mary’s Hospital on Walnut Street in Rogers, if homeless advocates have their way.
“Downtown Rogers is a perfect place to house homeless people,” said Gary O’Malley, program director at the Homeless is Center Day Center and Family Residential Facility. “We need transitional housing now. And, everyone knows no one else wants to live there.”
He was responding to one of his key recommendations – to request $2 million to rehab an old hotel in the historic downtown Rogers district. O’Malley told us, “With the homeless, domestic abuse, and addiction issues in Northwest Arkansas, and the deteriorated old hotel and the hospital available, we’re taking it all the way to the Arkansas Legislative Task Force to Study Homelessness.”
State Rep. Wilhelmina Lewellen, D-Little Rock, chaired the Arkansas Legislative Task Force to Study Homelessness task force, and sponsor of the bill that created it. “We think she is going to embrace our proposal,” he added.
Either way, he said, “That old hotel could be put to use for a great thing. Homeless from across the region could have a warm bed and hot meal. The entire region would only benefit.”
He wants to offer emergency vouchers for women and children in immediate crisis, including domestic abuse, as well as provide emergency housing, social services, local transit access and other services.
