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Hazel’s House of Hope shelter operating at reduced capacity; director seeks funding to reopen beds and add overflow space
Summary
Catholic Charities’ Grace Shelter told Monongalia County commissioners that fire-marshall limits reduced Hazel’s House of Hope capacity from 28 to 19 beds; staff say they can add 15 overnight beds in the sobering center if funding is available. Commissioners discussed regional demand and funding limits but took no formal action.
Catholic Charities’ Grace Shelter Director Jessica Thompson told the Monongalia County Commission on June 4 that Hazel’s House of Hope has seen its licensed capacity reduced from 28 beds to 19 after a square-footage re-calculation by the fire marshal, and that the agency is seeking funds to add up to 15 overnight beds in the facility’s sobering-center space.
Thompson said the shelter has served 24 people so far this year, 12 of them veterans, and that the program has historically placed 35 people into permanent supportive housing. “We are an overflow shelter for the veterans,” Thompson said. She added that about 50% of the shelter’s clients have been from Monongalia County and that stays are limited to 45 days but can be extended up to six months for participants engaged in services.
The shelter’s reduced capacity is a fire-safety matter, Thompson said, after the state or city fire marshal recalculated usable living area. “There was actually 3 of them. They calculated it right then and there and said, you’re down — you have to decrease by 9 beds on Grama,” Thompson said, describing the inspection that led to the 19-bed limit.
The commission and public commenters discussed whether the county should fund more beds, how regional demand affects a county-run facility and what services are available for people needing recovery or mental-health treatment. Resident Mary Ann Folz urged the county and city to work together to increase shelter capacity, saying the county should aim to restore at least the pre‑inspection number of beds and ideally expand further. “We really need more than 19 beds,” Folz said.
Commissioners and staff described the issue as regional — the shelter serves people from several surrounding counties and out of state — and stressed limits on county funding. A commissioner noted that Hazel’s House of Hope receives a mix of city, county and state funding; Thompson said funding sources include county, city and state contributions. The commission offered to continue conversations and to assist in coordinating with other jurisdictions and service providers, but no formal motion or funding commitment was made at the meeting.
Why it matters: County funding decisions and program capacity affect both unhoused residents seeking services and neighborhoods where people may camp or otherwise concentrate. The shelter’s capacity and service model determine how many people can access temporary and transitional housing in Monongalia County.
Background and details: Thompson told the commission that because Hazel’s House of Hope operates as a low-barrier shelter it will intake people who are intoxicated but will remove individuals who continue disruptive behaviors. She also said that while the shelter can refer people who need treatment to recovery providers such as Lauren’s Wish and others, it does not itself provide full clinical mental-health treatment beds. Commissioners raised concerns about follow-up services and regional funding, and emphasized the county’s responsibility to its residents while recognizing demand from neighboring counties.
Next steps: Thompson said the shelter is pursuing funding to convert sobering-center square footage into overnight beds and will continue to work with referring agencies and county staff. The commission said it will remain engaged but did not vote on funding at the June 4 session.
