Ronica Shannon
Housing Madison County’s homeless are Betty Miler’s top priority, but it becomes more of a struggle every day.
Miller, who serves as director of Richmond’s New Liberty Family Homeless Shelter, is hosting the facility’s annual fundraiser Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Betty Miller Center, located at 325 Estill Avenue.
Tickets are $5 for the all-you-can-eat chili supper, which also will feature peanut butter sandwiches and homemade desserts. Carry out orders will be available.
Tickets can be purchased at the door before the luncheon or by calling 623-4564.
The New Liberty Family Homeless Shelter has six, two- and three-bedroom apartments equipped for families with children.
The facility operates as a partnership between Kentucky River Foothills and the New Liberty Baptist Sunday School Convention.
It is funded by the Sunday school convention, the city of Richmond and the Kentucky Housing Corporation.
However, more than 65 percent of the shelter’s funding comes from local fundraisers and personal donations, Miller said.
Local churches, grocery stores and other local businesses do what they can to help the shelter, but with a full house and 25 families on a waiting list, that help only goes so far, Miller said.
“This is my big (fundraiser) for the year and I’m hoping I’ll get a good crowd,” she said.
The shelter needs a variety of materials and services to function efficiently, including maintaining the physical upkeep of the building, as well as preparing the residents for life outside the shelter.
“When they move out, they need furniture, bedding and things to furnish a house,” Miller said. “We need people to help give these people housing after they move out. Right now, we just need help in the upkeep of the place. When you move people in and our every six months, the big thing is keeping it painted.”
Miller encouraged Madison County residents to become more aware of the homeless problem and its seriousness.
“They need to come out and see where the homeless really are,” she said. “They need to come and stay all day and see what it’s like.”
Call the shelter at 623-4564 for more information about how to volunteer.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
