Helping those who help others

COEUR d'ALENE - For nearly a decade, Fresh Start has provided a haven for the homeless and mentally ill in Coeur d'Alene.

The nonprofit drop-in center will continue its work in the Lake City, but beginning Tuesday, Fresh Start will be providing its services as part of St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho.

Bill Smith, president of the Fresh Start board, said the need to make an operational change became apparent after the death of volunteer Teresa Martinson in September.

"She worked so much. She had worked every day, at least five days a week," Smith said.

Fresh Start was founded in 2002 and since 2005 has offered the homeless some sanctuary from life on the streets. From 7:30 to noon every Monday through Saturday, the drop-in center is a place for those in need to find food, a place to shower, wash laundry, pick up mail, check email and search online for jobs.

Martinson's husband, Howard, served as the organization's executive director until his retirement from the position in January. The mainly volunteer-run organization had a big gap to fill with the loss of the Martinsons, Smith said.

They knew they needed a long-term plan.

The board began looking at other nonprofits and churches for an organization that could operate Fresh Start.

"St. Vincent de Paul rose to the top," Smith said.

He said Fresh Start's major grantors like United Way, the Inland Northwest Community Foundation and the Women's Gift Alliance all gave their blessing to the idea.

"It totally fits under the mission of St. Vincent de Paul," said Jeff Conroy, director of that organization.

St. Vincent de Paul is the largest provider of food, clothing, shelter and other needed services for the poor and homeless in North Idaho.

But Fresh Start serves a population St. Vincent de Paul often can't, the 8 percent of homeless adults who are considered chronically homeless. For a variety of reasons, usually mental health-related, these individuals can't or won't go into housing.

"We provide a service that isn't provided anywhere else," Smith said. "There isn't anyplace else to get cleaned up and go back on the street."

Smith said 1,300 different individuals came through Fresh Start's door last year.

The drop-in center's need to join St. Vincent de Paul isn't financial in any way, Smith said. Fresh Start has its own funding sources and grants.

"And this is not a money-making proposition for St. Vincent de Paul," Conroy said.

St. Vincent de Paul will provide Fresh Start with business operating services like human resources and accounting. Fresh Start's employees will become St. Vincent de Paul employees. The drop-in center will remain in its current location at 1524 E. Sherman Ave.

"Fresh Start offers a service that is used and needed in the community. They needed help, and we want to help them," Conroy said.