Fresh Start program to move
<p>In this March 23, 2009 Press file photo, Rory Hance, a volunteer and then-board member with Fresh Start, moves a refrigerator at the new location at 1524 East Sherman Avenue in Coeur d'Alene. The warming shelter, now operated by St. Vincent de Paul of North Idaho, is planning to move locations in October.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho's Fresh Start program will move from its East Sherman Avenue location in October.
Fresh Start is a nonprofit drop-in center that offers homeless and mentally ill adults a place to shower, find food, wash laundry and look online for jobs. Executive Director Jeff Conroy told The Press Thursday that the program will be relocated to an expanded community dining hall, located at 108 E. Walnut Ave. in Coeur d'Alene.
"It makes more sense being located on our campus near the HELP Center with all of the services available," Conroy said. "The move will also save St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho approximately $26,400 per year that we can use to serve our community."
Physicians from Heritage Health, a Coeur d'Alene community health center, visit Fresh Start regularly and can prescribe medication to those dealing with substance withdrawal symptoms. The program also helps people find support through 12-step recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
"St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho has a reputation in our community of providing services to those in need in our community while being good neighbors," Conroy said. "The new location of the drop-in program will continue (to operate) under our guidelines."
The community dining, Conroy said, only seats 19 people and uses a kitchen smaller than in most homes. It's open for dinner Monday through Friday, he added, and serves more than 1,500 meals a month.
"We have to eat in shifts," Conroy said of the current facility.
He added that the new dining hall will seat 60, and have two bathrooms and laundry facilities.