Jefferson County will soon have a transitional rehabilitative shelter for people who are homeless.
The shelter, called the New Hope Outreach Center, is expected to open in September on a site on Old Hwy. 21 north of Hillsboro where the former Opal’s Restaurant and Motel used to operate.
“The NHOC will be a comprehensive, goal-oriented six-month program for those who want a change for long-term success,” said executive director Casey Kindt, who stumbled on the property in January while checking out a nearby location. “We want to help those who are serious about getting out of homelessness.”
NHOC officials paid $500,000 for the property, and the sale closed March 15. The nearly 6-acre parcel is zoned for commercial use and is located between the Hillsboro R-3 School District bus barn and a storage facility. Besides the former restaurant and motel buildings, a three-bedroom home and large pole barn are located on the property.
“All the buildings will be redeveloped in phases starting with the motel and then the restaurant,” Kindt said. “The motel will be updated into housing for four individuals, and the restaurant will become our Resource Center with staff offices and areas for group classes, training, counseling and medical, dental and behavioral health care.
“We are starting small to build trust. The plan is to grow as we go. We not only want to do well by the homeless people we will serve, but also by the county.”
Cpl. Drew Crews, who leads the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Homeless Outreach Team, said the center is “a step in the right direction” toward helping people in Jefferson County who are unhoused.
“I understand the need to start slowly and build a track record of success, yet it is critical to have timely alternatives to offer newly homeless people and those needing to get off the homeless cycle.”
The nonprofit NHOC was founded in late 2022 by leaders of New Hope Fellowship Church in High Ridge. The faith-based NHOC ministry was started to help people in the county experiencing homelessness.
The group first proposed redeveloping a five-building campus with two residential facilities that would have housed 36 people on a 28-acre property in Mapaville, but the County Council denied a rezoning request in November that would have cleared the way for the project.
So the group looked for a new location and has been fundraising.
“NHOC is an independent program, though we are raising funds from our local community, churches, grants and donations to help with the renovations and operations,” Kindt said.
“There are so many people working to help the unhoused individuals in our county,” she continued. “Our partners through the Homeless Coalition will play a critical role at NHOC. Their expertise and skills will be fully utilized with each client to ensure we are providing the best service possible.”
“It was the best news to learn that NHOC has a home and that individuals now experiencing homelessness will have a safe place to stay and access to resources in Jefferson County,” said Sue Curfman, president and CEO of Comtrea, which provides health care services throughout the county. “This represents the collective vision of many community partners who have persevered over the years to provide resources and restore dignity and hope to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
“For some individuals and communities, it has become easy to accept the homeless situation as a problem we cannot solve and subsequently ignore it with apathy and indifference,” Curfman said. “Many individuals harbor the misconception that the homeless got themselves into this situation and have little desire to change their situation.
“While this may be true for a small group of individuals, many homeless people have experienced a serious setback such as loss of a home or job, marginal income in a period of inflation, rising rents and/or made a bad decision at some time. We have all made a bad decision and recovered from that bad decision, often with the support and help of others. Each homeless individual and family deserve this same opportunity of help and support that NHOC will offer.”
Old Opal’s property
The former Opal’s Restaurant opened in 1958 and the motel opened in 1963 when Hwy. 21 was a major thoroughfare between St. Louis and southern Missouri. Opal Howard and two generations of her family ran the restaurant before it closed permanently in 2001. Bruce Howard, her grandson, inherited the property in 2015 when his father, the late Leslie Howard, passed away.
Bruce Howard listed the property for sale in 2020 for $600,000.
Kindt said the NHOC plans to begin redeveloping the property in May.
She said she hopes to retain as many existing features as possible, but envisions bringing in more natural light to the 4,000-square-foot Resource Center to give it a warm, homey atmosphere. The three-bedroom home on the property may later be developed into housing for homeless families, and the large pole barn may become a recreation center.
Security cameras and staff will provide 24-hour protection, Kindt said.
“The benefits of this new property are that it will allow us to assess the greatest needs in the county and to adapt to those in the future planning and development,” Kindt said. “While we know the need is far greater than our small beginning, we definitely plan to implement the program that we believe will make a change in the lives of the individuals we serve. As funding grows so will our capacity.”
Kindt said the NHOC will adapt its six-month rehabilitative program as needed as well.
“We will consider extending the program longer on an individual basis, though some people may not need six months,” she said. “We are in it for the long haul and will stay in touch with our residents to help make sure things are going well for them.”
NHOC representatives are seeking volunteers and donations to help with the project.
Here are ways Jefferson countians may help:
■ Volunteer for the NHOC Cleanup Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 15 by showing up or signing up at newhopeoc.com.
■ Provide financial gifts by donating online at newhopeoc.com or by mailing a check to NHOC, 9637 Hwy. 21, Hillsboro, 63050.
■ Monitor the progress and event calendar at newhopeoc.com and on the NHOC Facebook page.