INDIANAPOLIS — People experiencing homelessness may soon face even more adversity as a popular ministry that helps the homeless population is just days away from shutting its doors.
What started in a tent has grown to more than 5,000 square feet of compassion and understanding. A place for people living on the streets to relax for a moment, eat a hot meal and get some clean clothes.
The two buildings house Refuge Place Indy, but in a couple days, this resource for people with nowhere to go could be homeless itself.
Refuge Place Indy has always been about the people who stop by, like Sarah, who has experienced homelessness in her life.
"I got companionship. I got to see my friends," she said. "It's a full-time job to just go to get your next meal, to get shelter, to find a little bit of peace and enjoyment."
The people come for different reasons: for food, hygiene, clothing and relief.
"Get some laughs and have fun. Forget about some of the suffering," Sarah said.
But it comes at a cost of around $4,000 each month to operate. A steady flow of donors cover half the cost, but it's too much and now Refuge Place Indy is becoming a refugee. Elder Tim Wellington, a board member for Seven Pillars Ministry, said donations have been down since Christmas and the group can't stay at the place it's called home since 2007.
"It's gonna be like starting over," Wellington said. "We gotta get another location and downsize so we can continue meeting the needs of the people."
Wellington said they can keep going if they could find 200 people to donate $20 a month.
"We feed 50-to-85 people every day," he said.
Wellington said they'll find a way to keep providing meals for their friends who live on the streets, but most of all they need to find a place to call home where people can sit, charge their phones and feel safe.
"People need those basic needs met or they're not gonna be OK," Wellington said.
Refuge Place Indy has been there for those in need, and now it's the ministry that needs a helping hand.
"That's what it's about, kind of bringing that peace," Wellington said.
