News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Foundation work underway for Seeds of Hope’s first shelter that can house the homeless year-round in Sparta.
Seeds of Hope Founder and Executive Director Tina Lomax said the non-profit has provided shelter before but only during the winter months. Lomax said the need for a year-round shelter continues to grow.
“We’ve all seen affordable housing is just kind of a thing of the past now,” Lomax said. “Our numbers are continuing to rise and so being homeless in 100-degree weather and 20-degree weather is just about as bad.”
Lomax said the shelter is currently doing some foundation work and expects a framework for the shelter to be up sometime in September. Lomax said finances would determine when the overall shelter would be completed.
“It all depends on finances and hopefully by shelter season,” Lomax said. “We are hoping that by December 15th that will open before or on December 15th.”
Lomax said the shelter was part of a five-year plan the organization put together to help the community. Lomax said the shelter is being built using funds they have received from donations.
“We are solely ran on donations from individuals, businesses, and churches,” Lomax said. “We don’t take very many grants as far as government grants or anything like that at this time. It’s very important that we have community partners to come alongside us and to help us with funding.”
Seeds of Hope currently assists the homeless by providing food, clothes, and in some cases medical treatment. Lomax said the non-profit also provides classes for things like finances and meal prepping.
“It’s kind of hard to think about that stuff when you are homeless,” Lomax said. “Sometimes you really don’t have a budget you are just trying to survive the day-to-day life.”
Lomax said the goal is to help the homeless get back on their feet and find a footing outside of the shelter. Lomax said the nonprofit offers a hand-up instead of a handout.
