SafeHouse Ministries looking to reach $2.5 million goal in fundraising campaign
SafeHouse Ministries raised more than $1 million for shelter expansions, refurbishing facilities and expanding their substance abuse program.
The capital campaign drive began last September with the goal of raising $2.5 million, said Columbus mayoral candidate John Anker who chaired the campaign. The plan is to use the money to do one-time capital improvements to five structures throughout the city, he said.
“SafeHouse ministries serves people in trying to change broken cycles in the area of jobs, hope and homes,” Anker said. “So, we’re helping a lot of people in different ways.”
Most of the $1.2 million that has been committed is already in the bank, he said, but SafeHouse needs to reach its goal of raising $2.5 million before it can begin the list of projects. To do this, the organization is reaching out to the community to help raise the money, Anker said.
Some of the programs that would be helped by this campaign include the shelter expansions that executive director Neil Richardson announced March 28. This includes the re-purposing of the former Cobis Personal Care Home into a men’s shelter that allowed SafeHouse to increase the number of beds it has in shelters from 84 to 192.
An expansion to the organization’s free state-licenced intensive outpatient substance abuse program would also benefit from the capital campaign, Richardson said. The plan is to move the treatment program to SafeHouse’s location on Victory Drive, pending state approval.
“That expansion is allowing us to rehab some trailers to turn that into a legitimate treatment program,” Richardson said. “And giving South Columbus access to that for free.”
The organization invites people interested in donating to the campaign to come to SafeHouse to meet executive director Neil Richardson, learn more about the organization and what the money will be used for. Additionally, SafeHouse will be using the media and internet to get the word out about the capital campaign and the services that the organization offers.
“We are asking people to get engaged,” Anker said. “Go on SafeHouse Ministries website and learn who we are, what we do and how we’re going to use the money effectively to serve our city.”
The campaign was established to run for three years, Richardson said, and they expect to be done raising the money by the fall of 2023. The money raised thus far has come from individual donors, people on the board of directors and the capital campaign team, he said.
The donations received so far range in size from $1,000 to large donations, Anker said.
“We’re halfway there,” Richardson said. “Now, we’re asking the community to help us get the other half.”
People who would like to donate should call SafeHouse at 706-322-3773.
This story was originally published April 18, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "SafeHouse Ministries looking to reach $2.5 million goal in fundraising campaign."
