Belknap House opens at last for homeless families

Belknap House opened at the end of February to offer shelter to homeless families in Laconia and neighboring communities. (Courtesy photo)

By MICHAEL KITCH, LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — After eight months of renovations, capped by several weeks of fits and starts, Belknap House, the emergency cold weather shelter for homeless families, opened at the tail end of February and is already fielding requests and inquiries from people seeking a roof over their heads.

The building at 200 Court St. has been completely renovated. The wiring and plumbing, along with the furnace and water tank, have been replaced. A sprinkler system, together with the water main supplying it, has been installed together with fire alarm and security systems. A kitchen and laundry were added to the building, which now has new doors, windows , flooring and carpeting. The kitchen is fitted with two stoves, microwaves, refrigerators and ample secured cupboards.

The shelter will have space to house six families, up to as many as 19 individuals. Only families referred by the welfare director of either the city of Laconia or one of the 10 towns in Belknap County will be housed at the shelter, which will be a "dry" facility, allowing no alcohol or drugs. The originating municipality will be responsible for any costs or services associated with sheltering the families.

Belknap House will operate as a shelter in the cold weather months from Oct. 15 to May 15 and as a hostel during the remainder of the year. The shelter will operate around the clock — 24 hours a day, seven days a week – on an estimated operating budget of between $110,000 and $120,000. Fees from operating the hostel are projected to contribute some $40,000 towards the operating budget.

Karen Welford of Laconia, who was among the founders of Better Together, serves as executive director with responsibility for overseeing and managing all aspects of the operation of Belknap House as well as for pursuing partnerships with local businesses, governments and civic organizations. Tammy Emery serves as family support coordinator, responsible for assisting families overcome the challenge of homelessness and placing them in transitional or permanent housing.

With four part-time members of staff managing the shelter, Belknap House is relying on volunteers to fill five shifts seven days a week. Volunteers working in the shelter must undergo a background check and complete at least two hours of training. Volunteers are also needed to assist with landscaping as well as making the the transition from shelter to hostel. Anyone wishing to volunteer should sign up on the Facebook page — Facebook.com/belknap house — or call Belknap House at 527-8097. For more information, to volunteer or to donate visit the Belknap House website at www.belknaphouse.org.

Belknap House plans to celebrate its opening by inviting the public to tour the facility sometime in May, when the facility is transitioning from a shelter to a hostel.

The building at 200 Court St. that has become Belknap House had no kitchen. Now it does. (Courtesy photo)