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Wednesday, April 5, 2006

Bellewood Presbyterian Home For Children Receives HUD Monies

Tuesday, January 13, 2006, was a very special day for the local Coalition for the Homeless and its partners. Congresswoman Anne Northup was present along with Louisville HUD Field Office Director Krista Mills, HUD CPD Director Virginia Peck, and Louisville Office Homeless Coordinator Barbara Cottrell to announce a record HUD Continuum of Care award of more than $6 million dollars to support the Louisville Metro homeless partners and programs. Ms. Marlene Gordon, Director of the Coalition for the Homeless, was very excited about the award amount declaring that the funding would go a long way toward efforts to assist homeless shelters, projects and clients.

From left to right: Evie Macway, Pastor, Bardstown Road Presbyterian Church, Virginia Peck, CPD Director, Marlene Gordon, Director, Coalition of the Homeless, Congresswoman Anne Northup, Reverend Oliver Hofmann, Development Director, Bellewood Presbyterian, and Krista Mills, HUD Field Office Director.

The award announcement was made in the Fellowship Hall of the Bardstown Road Presbyterian Church. The Bellewood Presbyterian Home for Children was enthusiastic about the news that they were awarded $420,830 in permanent supportive housing grant funds to aid homeless disabled clients. This is the second award received by Bellewood. Two years ago, Bellewood received funding for transitional housing for young homeless women, some with families.

Two examples of the dedicated work that Bellewood does with its clients were explained at the press conference by its’ clients themselves. Ms. Michelle Griffith credits Bellewood with not only giving her a place to live when she was homeless and pregnant, but also helping her turn her life around, go to school and provide the tools necessary to strive for increased education, income and eventual self-sufficiency for herself and three-week old baby.

From left to right: Bellewood Residents, Michelle Griffith, Kyneesha Kennedy (holding Darryll Webster III) and Kentrell Kennedy.

Ms. Kyneesha Kennedy communicated her story with great emotion in relating her struggles with her children. Ms. Kennedy told the audience that Bellewood has provided her with a stable home for herself and her three children, something that she has not had as an adult. She provided testimony to the caring atmosphere and dedicated staff that are helping her turn her life around so that she can work and provide a good income and family life for her family.