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Community group outlines volunteer-run Joshua House warming shelter, offers $15,000 loan
Summary
Volunteers behind Joshua House told the Newport City Council they will loan $15,000 and continue fundraising to open a volunteer-run warming shelter possibly by Thanksgiving; the effort is intended as a community-led, fiscally sponsored program rather than a city-operated shelter.
Brenda Louder, volunteer care coordinator with Joshua House, and Tim Dailey told the Newport City Council on Oct. 20 that the nonprofit will loan $15,000 toward startup costs for a volunteer-run warming shelter and will continue fundraising for remaining expenses. "It's really about preventing homelessness," Louder said, describing the group's work and the winter urgency that motivated the shelter plan.
Joshua House, a 501(c)(3), has helped more than 1,000 families and the presenters said fundraising has covered roughly $150,000 to $200,000 in assistance over recent years. Tim Dailey said the organization will lend $15,000 now and hopes to recover that amount through additional donations and benefit events so Joshua House can continue its other assistance work after the shelter launches.
Council members and the presenters discussed a possible site: the old Bayview Motel at 501 Pleasant Street, owned by an LLC identified in the meeting as Ragamuffin Builders. Council members cautioned that regulatory and permitting hurdles remain and said feasibility should be clear within about a week to 10 days before the group proceeds with conversion work.
Mayor Andrew Touchette framed the initiative as one that "grew out of the task force" and said the council expects the shelter to be a community-led effort with religious and social-service partners providing volunteers, background checks and training. The council did not vote or take a formal action to provide city resources during the meeting.
The presenters emphasized the human need behind the proposal. Louder recounted the death of a local unhoused person who froze last winter, saying a local warming shelter could have offered an alternative that night. Council members thanked the presenters and encouraged continued coordination with the task force and other community partners as the group finalizes a location and operations plan.
Next steps: the presenters and council said they expect to know within about 7 to 10 days whether the Bayview Motel site is feasible, and volunteers will continue fundraising and training while the project proceeds toward a possible Thanksgiving opening window.
