Miami County Family Abuse Shelter Director Barb Holman, far left, shows the Cheryl Stiefel-Francis Room to Liz Sonnenstine of the Tipp City Area Chamber of Commerce, Shelby Chaney of the Troy Area Chamber of Commerce, and Kathy Sherman from the Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce (and sister of the late Cheryl Stiefel-Francis), during a tour of the facility after Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening the new location.
Mike Ullery | Miami Valley Today
Director Barb Adkins, center, cuts the ribbon, opening the new Miami County Family Abuse Shelter in Troy on Tuesday afternoon. With her are representatives of Piqua, Troy, and Tipp City chambers of commerce and the shelter.
Mike Ullery | Miami Valley Today
TROY — A ribbon cutting was held Tuesday for the new Miami County Family Abuse Shelter location.
The facility, at 530 Crescent Drive, Troy, is a 2-acre site and was previously a doctor’s office. The existing space was re-purposed, along with an addition, to include a total of 7,370 square feet.
According to shelter director Barb Holman, construction is complete and they are beginning to transition to the new site.
“The work is completed and we’re in the process of furnishing it,” Holman said. “We hope to have the doors open and be operational next week, weather permitting.”
Holman said the new facility is nearly doubling the space they have to help the homeless as well as victims of domestic violence. They will now be able to house 40 people, both women and children, instead of the 22 they can currently serve at the downtown facility.
She said the shelter is still looking for a few items to furnish the new facility. She said toddler beds and cribs to adapt rooms as needed and bunk beds remain items the shelter could use help purchasing.
“If anyone wants to help with any of these items, we would welcome them,” Holman said. “Otherwise, we will have to purchase them.”
Bathroom facilities at the shelter will go from one upstairs bathroom to six dorm-like showers and stalls at the new facility. Board member Ruth Jenkins said the new facility also will be more energy-efficient, be handicapped accessible, offer more parking and will help the shelter comply with the guidelines of its funding sources for operating costs. Separate spaces for victims of domestic violence and the homeless also have been designed into the two wings, Holman said.
In the administrative office area, which includes the renovation of the office space already at the site, Holman said staff will be able to offer direct services and increase confidentiality when working with agencies such as New Creations Counseling and the Miami County Recovery Council, which will have satellite offices in the building for on-site services.
According to Holman, the Barbel Adkins Education and Activity Center at 22 E. Franklin St., Troy, has been sold to a private owner, who will re-purpose the building. Funds from that building, along with the sale of the current shelter known as the Franklin House at 16 E. Franklin St., Troy, will be used to cover the construction costs that went over what was expected and the purchase of the land on Crescent Drive as well as furnishing the facility.
Holman said she hopes to offer an open house by late summer or early fall for the community to be able to visit the facility and see what they have helped create for the future.
“We are so fortunate to have the support of local foundations, local businesses, and individuals,” Jenkins said.
Holman agrees.
“We really just wanted to thank the community for making it possible,” Holman said. “This has definitely been a community project.”
