Three
families that were formerly living in Collin County’s only homeless
shelter, the Samaritan Inn, have moved into a home of their own in the
new Gateway Apartments that are being managed by the Samaritan Inn.
Located
immediately across the street from the Samaritan Inn on State Highway
5, the two-story Gateway Apartments will provide a home for 20 families
who have graduated from the Samaritan Inn. The residents pay a
discounted rent and are able to live in the apartments up to 18 months.
Marc
A. Sparks and his wife, Jane, worked with Lynne Sipiora, executive
director of the Samaritan Inn, to make the Gateway Apartments become a
reality.
“There
is a real scarcity of affordable housing in Collin County. I called
Marc Sparks and asked if he knew anyone who would help build an
apartment complex and he said he would do it,” Sipiora said during the
ribbon cutting ceremony held Wednesday afternoon at the apartments,
which was attended by about 60 volunteers, Samaritan Inn board members,
and the many people who adopted the apartments and furnished them for
the residents.
Sipiora
was delighted about the number of people who attended the ribbon
cutting ceremony and people who sponsored the apartments and furnished
them from top to bottom for the residents.
“I
am delighted about the turnout. It proves my whole theory, which is
collaboration and momentum solves social problems,” Sipiora said.
Residents
of the Samaritan Inn who demonstrate an ability to make a positive
change in their previous behaviors or lifestyles are chosen to live in
the apartments. They also serve as a motivating example to other inn
residents and show that the inn’s programs are far beyond a cot and a
hot meal, but rather a way of living to achieve long-term financial
stability and ultimately, independence, Sipiora said.
Gateway
residents must be employed full-time and pay a percentage of their
wages in subsidized rent and all utilities. Though not yet able to pay
full rent, the move to the apartments will allow the residents to have
a degree of independence with the ability to save money when they will
move out on their own.
The
first three Gateway families moved into their apartments at the end of
March. Future Gateway residents will move in several at a time during
the remainder of 2008, ensuring smooth transitions for all, Sipiora
said.
The
residents are encouraged to take all furnishings and supplies with them
when they move out of the apartments, which will further enable them to
afford the move to a market rate apartment or home, Sipiora said.
Aaron
Whitaker was the first person to move into the Gateway Apartments,
which is the only one of its kind in the United States. He thanked
everyone that attended the ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, and
the people who sponsored the apartments and “anyone that even looked
inside the apartments.”
Local
home builder Darling Homes built the apartments at no profit. Darling
Homes, which is owned by brothers Steve, Bob and Bill Darling, also
built the first home for the North Collin County Habitat for Humanity
subdivision east of SH 5 and is also building the 50th home for Habitat
for Humanity.
Members
of various churches, civic groups, businesses and citizen groups in
McKinney and members of the Chambersville United Methodist Church,
which is northwest of McKinney, sponsored the 20 apartments. Some units
have been adopted on an ongoing basis and other units once, so there
will be a continuing need and opportunity to adopt units. Beverly
Covington, the city of McKinney’s deputy city secretary, was among
members of the Chambersville United Methodist Church who sponsored and
furnished an apartment for a Samaritan Inn resident.
“We
just thought it was a very worthwhile community effort. It was
something that the entire congregation, even though we’re small, was
willing to assist in getting people back on their feet. The church is
very supportive of giving a helping hand to somebody who needs it,”
Covington said.
Sleep Experts donated mattresses for 19 of the apartments.
Samaritan
Inn board member Phil Maternowski attended the ribbon cutting ceremony
and said he was very glad to see the apartments built to accommodate
the residents.
“We’re
called to serve those in need and this gives the people a second
chance. It greatly enhances the likelihood of them succeeding in that,”
Maternowski said.
Sparks
presented Sipiora with the 2007 Grand Samaritan award during the
ceremony, which brought tears to Sipiora’s eyes because she was very
grateful to receive the award.
Staff
members of the North Collin County Habitat for Humanity, former
McKinney city manager Larry Robinson, Collin County District Attorney
John Roach, McKinney City Council members Gilda Garza and Bill Cox,
council member elect for district 2 Geralyn Kever, at-large council
candidate Sherry Tucker David, and Victor Manuel, the Democratic
candidate for the Collin County Commissioner for Pct. 3, were some of
the event’s attendees. Collin County Judge Keith Self, who is a member
of the Samaritan Inn’s board of directors, also attended the ribbon
cutting ceremony.
The
moving of the three families from the inn into the apartments has also
allowed the Samaritan Inn to allow more homeless people to live in the
inn, Sipiora said. In February, 95 people who met the qualifications to
stay at the inn had to be turned away because of lack of room. The inn
can house 120 people, Sipiora said. The Samaritan Inn is not an
emergency homeless shelter, but allows people who are homeless who have
a picture ID, who can pass a background check to ensure the person has
not been charged with or has a history of a violent or sexually based
crime and who have been clean and sober for at least 30 days to stay at
the inn.
For
more information on the Gateway Apartments or to adopt a unit, contact
Sipiora or Casey Bond, the Gateway program manager at 972-542-5301 or
visit the inn’s Web site www.samaritaninn.org. For more information about Marc Sparks visit www.whoismarcsparks.com
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