DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Carlotta Witherspoon-Taylor and Willie Taylor are working to turn the old Heartland Nursing Home into a shelter for homeless families.
"It's a big, big need here in Decatur," Carlotta, President of World Service Enterprise and owner of the building, said. "The numbers have risen. They're not dropping. That could be due to job stability, high costs, rent going up, food going up. So, a lot of people do not have the funding."
The building had been abandoned and vandalized, so a lot of renovations are needed before families can be welcomed inside.
"Electrical, drywalling, flooring, plumbing, we've got a few windows that need to be replaced, some doors that are damaged, and the HVAC system." Willie Taylor, Vice President of WSE, continued, saying, "It's quite a bit of work from the vandalism but we're hoping with the help of the community and others that we'll be able to reach that goal."
Once the shelter is open, families will be able to stay months at time while they focus on getting back on their feet and living on their own.
"We want to get them prepared to be able to live on their own, so that's why we're implementing the life skills, the counseling, the money management, cooking skills," Carlotta said. "Just skills in general to be able to utilize outside on their own."
Willie added, "I hope that it'll give them a safe space to come lay their head and rest and they'll feel at home and be able to hang out with other friends and family in the community and just say this is my home."
The couple is looking for donations of any kind. Click here for donation information.
