Friendship House homeless shelter in Immokalee was set to close June 30 and its residents have been relocated.
Even so officials at St. Matthew’s House, the nonprofit homeless shelter organization that owns Friendship House, is back in discussions with a potential entity to take it over after backing away earlier.
“We have not had any new buyers step forward, however, we are back in conversation with our original potential partner,” Ben Bridges, president and chief executive officer of St. Matthew’s House, said in an email.
The Naples Daily News published a story in late May that St. Matthew’s House had made the decision to close Friendship House on June 30. That came after a “thoughtful and prayerful evaluation of how we can best steward our resources to achieve the greatest impact across Southwest Florida.”
Located at 602 W. Main St., Friendship House has 30 beds and three family rooms.
Immokalee leaders opened it in 1987 to address the increase in homelessness in the community. The dominant industry is agriculture which depends on migrant workers in the winter to harvest vegetables. St. Matthew’s House acquired Friendship House in 2008.
“After the article was published, (the potential partner) reached out with a possible new opportunity. However, those conversations are still ongoing, and nothing has been solidified,” Bridges said.
Friendship House’s occupancy rate over the last year has fluctuated between 60% and 80%.
Up to half of the residents came from the greater Naples area while waiting for a bed to open up at the main campus at the 150-bed Campbell Lodge in East Naples where they can find employment.
Nearly 25% of Immokalee residents have incomes below federal poverty levels, more than double the national average of 12%, according to U.S. Census data.
Bridges said all Friendship House residents have been relocated, which includes a handful getting into apartments with the help of St. Matthew’s House case workers.
Some of the residents were moved the Campbell Lodge in Naples or the Fort Myers Shelter for Women and Children in Fort Myers, both run by St. Matthew’s House.
Some residents traveled north to follow migrant farming jobs which they do every year, he said.
“(A) few indicated that they were moving back to their home country and then we worked with the remaining residents to find stable housing,” he said. “Last week, our last remaining residents, one single male and one family were able to move into apartments thanks to the support of our case managers.”
In terms of the seven employees at Friendship House in late May, Bridges said one employee remains so far with the organization.
“The others have either secured employment elsewhere or are still exploring options,” he said.
So what’s the potential down the road?
Bridges said in May that St. Matthew’s House would like to sell the property but would be open to other ideas.
“As the needs of the Immokalee community change, we are seeking the highest and best use of the facility as well as the most effective agency to operate,” he said.
For more information about St. Mathew’s House, visit stmatthewshouse.org.
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Liz Freeman is a health care reporter. Reach her by emailing lfreeman@naplesnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Homeless shelter in Immokalee closes after 39 years. What’s next?
Reporting by Liz Freeman, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Liz Freeman, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
