×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

Former school to become homeless shelter

By MATHEW PLAMONDON - Staff Writer | Oct 25, 2018

NASHUA – Officials with the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter hope to raise $3 million to renovate the former Sacred Heart School building, with plans to begin offering shelter to Nashua’s growing homeless population in the structure by the summer of 2021.

Shelter officials joined at Saint Patrick Parish on Wednesday to announce the 40-year lease agreement for the former school on Spring Street. The current plans would not involve moving the NSKS kitchen from its Quincy Street location.

Pending the results of an ongoing feasibility study, plans call for the shelter to close its current shelter facilities and consolidate operations at the new site.

“Our two current shelters are residential buildings and were not designed for this kind of use. We recently had to turn away a 70-year-old applicant simply because she uses a walker and our buildings are not handicapped-accessible,” shelter Executive Director Michael Reinke said.

“That was heartbreaking, but in a new, purpose-built facility we wouldn’t have to turn away someone with a mobility issue,” he added.

Within an 18-month span, shelter officials hope to have architectural renderings approved – and funding arranged through grants and donations to pay for the renovations. Current estimates place the cost of said renovations at $3 million.

“We are excited to announce this partnership, which will help us to better respond to the critical need for emergency shelter for Nashua families experiencing homelessness,” Reinke said.

The Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter has been providing emergency shelter to families and single adults in the community since the early 1980s.

David Grebowski is the shelter’s chairman of housing. He said the Sacred Heart School provides all sorts of conveniences that will make things much more efficient for the shelter. It will also be convenient for the shelter’s clients being, just across a parking lot from kitchen’s location on Quincy Street.

“We can consolidate our housing operations under one roof, and we will still be able to run the soup kitchen and pantry,” Grebowski said.

The location was once used as a school for Catholic families. This partnership helps St. Patrick’s Parish continue to find good use for the building within the community.

“This new partnership allows Saint Patrick’s Parish, founded in 1855, to continue its mission of manifesting the Lord’s presence in our community…” said the Rev. Michael Kerper, pastor of Saint Patrick Parish. “Now, it will help perform a great work of mercy: sheltering and affirming the dignity of people in need.”

Church officials said concern for helping the community outweighed any thought of using the building for rent, as they looked for a partnership. Kerper believes the building should be used with regards to the Church and its beliefs.

“This decision is primarily spiritual, not financial. We consciously decided against charging rent or making money because we regard the school as the Lord’s own property, consecrated to his service,” Kerper said.

“Once it was education. Now it’s welcome, mercy and shelter. Without this partnership with the Soup Kitchen, we would never have found a ‘holy use’ for the building.”

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

Interests
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *