St. Vincent de Paul consolidates Fresh Start services

COEUR d’ALENE — Fresh Start on Sherman Avenue will close its doors for good on Oct. 17, but the services will continue at St. Vincent de Paul’s newly remodeled facility in midtown.

“I don't like duplication of services, so we are closing Fresh Start's doors and will reopen Father Bill's Kitchen Nov. 1,” said Jeff Conroy, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul.

Conroy said the dining hall has been remodeled to add new commercial kitchen facilities and two new bathrooms with showers and laundry facilities.

“Before the remodel, we could seat about 17 people in the dining hall,” Conroy said. “Now we will be able to seat 60.”

Conroy said the hall serves between 112 and 120 people five nights a week Monday through Friday, and the new space will help accommodate that.

The dining hall is also being renamed Father Bill’s Kitchen. Conroy said Father Bill Crowley served on St. Vincent's board of directors.

Conroy said closing Fresh Start was a practical decision.

“It’s not a sustainable model,” he said. “It cost $27,000 a year to keep it up and running.”

He said consolidating the services in one location makes much more sense.

Trinity Group Homes is also merging with St. Vincent de Paul, Conroy said. Trinity’s Executive Director Bob Runkle has retired, so its board of directors approached St. Vincent’s board to discuss a merger.

“It will still be called ‘Trinity Group Home, a program of St. Vincent de Paul,’” he said, adding all 33 units in the four group homes will be maintained for clients with mental disabilities.

Conroy said St. Vincent de Paul is also gearing up to open the winter shelters this year. Starting Nov. 1, the warming shelters will be opened when the temperatures fall below 25 degrees.

“Other than that we don't have much going on,” Conroy said.