It’s been almost four months since the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky officially opened its new facility’s doors. In February, the shelter moved from its home of 14 years on Scott Blvd. in Covington to its new location at West 13th St in the city.
The executive director at the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky, Kim Webb, updated the Kenton County Fiscal Court Tuesday on programs at the new facility.
“The fiscal court, Kenton County, the city, everybody, is truly making a difference in the lives of individuals that are trying to piece their lives back together,” Webb said.
She first noted the new features that allow the men staying at the shelter remove barriers to finding work.
Webb said opening a second regional driver’s licensing office and having it located in Covington has been crucial for men who need to get their IDs renewed. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet opened the second office back in April.
“I want to show my extreme support and gratitude for making the department of transportation to be in the Kenton County Building,” Webb said. “Being able to get your ID there now has allowed men to return to work on a faster basis.”
The shelter has 18 work program beds (out of 68 total beds), which provide supportive and temporary housing for employed men who need a place to stay while saving money. During their stay, the shelter helps them find accommodations or connects them to other services.
“The most success happens with companies coming to pick them up in vans and then returning them to the shelter,” Webb said. “They’re working at factories, Tyson, the Reds stadium.”
Webb said though some men find work, they stay at the shelter longer than they may have in the past because of a lack of affordable housing.
“This is not a new concept,” Webb said. “But we certainly do not have the housing to support the needs of what people are making currently.”
Kenton County Commissioner Jon Draud said the lack of affordable housing was a “complex issue” and told the court someone needed to coordinate an effort and gather information on the problem so that the people in the shelter could progress.
Webb then addressed how the new facility provides on-site medical assistance for people staying there.
In May, the Emergency Shelter partnered with the UK College of Medicine to implement a free onsite healthcare clinic.
The Compassionate Care for You clinic operates on Mondays and Wednesdays and is run by UK College of Medicine students as part of their service learning.
Two beds are set up to serve the guests who stay at the shelter. The hope is to get the clinic running at least twice a week as the program progresses.
Webb said the clinic helps people with illnesses like Gangrene that can keep people from being able to work.
During the meeting, Webb acknowledged the Kenton County Fiscal Court and the Director of Kenton County Emergency Management, Steve Hensley. They were recognized for their help getting the new facility open and impacting their mission– to provide a life-saving and life-changing low barrier shelter.
Webb presented the Kenton County Fiscal Court with the “2022 Ralph Drees Impact Award” and Steve Hensley with the “2020 Beyond the Call of Duty Award.”
Webb said Hensley had a tremendous impact in helping the shelter during the pandemic find overflow locations when they were forced to cut their occupancy down to only 24 beds.
Webb said the court “championed to push us over the finish line” on their new facility and thanked them for their ongoing support over the last 14 years.
Kenton County still owns the shelter’s old building on Scott in Covington. The court voted at the fiscal court meeting on June 14 to surplus or dispose of the building. Whether that means selling it, transferring ownership, etc., will be decided at a later fiscal court meeting.
