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Stewart's Halfway House is in need of donations to help pay for building repairs and other expenses.
Corli Simmons, the nonprofit's executive director and granddaughter of founder Rose Cole, said the COVID-19 pandemic kept Stewart's Halfway House from holding fundraisers for at least the past two years. She said the nonprofit, which helps adults struggling with mental illness, could end up shutting down if they do not reach their goal of some $15,000. Repairs needed include improving the roof and plumbing, installing new flooring and sheetrock and painting inside the house.
Stewart’s Halfway House, which opened in Beaumont in 1971, is a transitional home that provides 24-hour supervision, medical assistance, three meals a day and helps people develop basic living skills. Simmons said Stewart's is a transitional home because people go there to get help before moving on to the next stage of their life.
Stewart's charges clients monthly rent, but Simmons said it isn't enough to cover all necessary expenses -- up to $90,000 annually to house up to 16 individuals. So, the nonprofit also relies on donations and grant money.
Simmons said individuals can apply to live at the home, but most are referred to Stewart's by Spindletop Baptist Hospital. Individuals go through an interview process before they're approved, and they can stay as long as necessary.
“We have one guy that's been here for 35 years. We have another guy that's been here since 2018, and then we have a lady that just moved in. So, she's only been here for two month,” Simmons said.
Simmons said that living at Stewart’s requires a resident to be sober from drugs and alcohol and also be stabilized on prescribed medications or in the process getting stabilized. They can then also be assisted in finding work -- on both a paid- or volunteer-basis.
“Most of the people that have been in here had careers, they had families, friends, children, they were managers, they were in the army, the list goes on and on,” Simmons said.
Simmons said that if Stewart's is able to get donations, it plans to make the necessary repairs and then open a second location.
People can donate through their website at stewartshouse.org where they take PayPal. They also have Cash App or donations can be made in-person.
Simmons said Stewart's also accepts volunteers for chores around the facility or simply putting on a movie or pizza night with residents.
megan.zapalac@beaumontenterprise.com
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