HELP Center purchases its headquarters

St. Vincent de Paul has been serving North Idaho for 70 years. Now, it finally owns its own headquarters.

The nonprofit bought the HELP Center from the city of Coeur d’Alene in early September for $479,083.60, after leasing it for seven years. To celebrate, the HELP Center hosted a barbecue for the community Thursday afternoon.

“We have a home now,” said St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho Executive Director Jeff Conroy. “It can’t be taken from us. This is the flagship of St. Vincent de Paul; this is our first line of offense to provide multiple services in one location.”

Conroy said part of the initial lease agreement required there be an option to buy. He said St. Vincent de Paul has been saving money for a few years to be able to make it happen.

The HELP Center, located at 201 E. Harrison Ave., serves free breakfast and lunch, acts as a check-in for the organization’s men’s and women’s shelters and transitional housing, offers utility and rent assistance, offers veteran services, and even offers classes to help people prepare for interviews.

St. Vincent de Paul is also connected with a lot of other organizations in the area, so if it can’t provide what someone needs, it can send that person in the right direction.

“I would say we’re kind of a one-stop shop,” said Heather Eddy, the HELP Center manager.

Last year, Conroy said, St. Vincent de Paul served 3,700 unduplicated people last year. Since January, the organization has provided almost 25,000 services.

Eddy estimates between 90 and 120 people walk in every day.

“Sometimes when [our clients] get here they are broken and don’t feel like they matter to anyone,” Eddy said. “We help them empower themselves, see their full potential and help them get there.”

HELP stands for “Helping Empower Local People.”