The former building of Ken Anderson Films is being considered for a homeless shelter in Warsaw.

Since 2010, Fellowship Missions has operated two homeless shelters in Warsaw – one to serve men, one for women. On Monday, April 22, it is the hope of founder Eric Lane to get approval from the city to bring both shelters together and form one facility.

The former Ken Anderson Films building at 1520 E. Winona Ave. is for sale and, according to Lane, the 8,500-square-foot building would be perfectly suited for a homeless shelter. “We’ve been looking at that building since it went on the market,” Lane said. “It would be perfect for us, it’s a good location and in close proximity to other resources for our clients. The renovations would be a lot less there (than formerly considered buildings), and we can do everything under one roof.”

Fellowship Missions has rented two separate homes in Warsaw for nearly three years providing a service to the community’s members who have fallen on hard times. 

In the past, Fellowship Missions has tried to establish a shelter closer to downtown Warsaw.

Initially, the former Trinamic building on South Buffalo Street was considered, but Lane said general issues with renovations there made the building impractical for use. A second building at 110 E. Market St., the former location of Brennan Pharmacy, was also considered. While that location did not need city approval, Lane was met with resistance from the downtown community.

“So far, I’ve not gotten any resistance from the (Ken Anderson Films building), and I’ve really kept the city informed of what we hope to do,” said Lane. “I’m hopeful the BZA will approve this Monday night.”

The Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals will meet at 7 p.m. Monday to vote on a variance for Fellowship Missions to use the commercially zoned property as a homeless shelter.

According to Lane, the people who find their way to him are the victims of the economy, abusive relationships and even the result of poor decisions that have set them back. But because Fellowship Missions is about helping those people to heal, recover and live productive lives, there are rules to follow.

Everyone is required to be checked into either of the shelter’s by 8 p.m. each night. They also must take a breathalyzer and have no trace of alcohol in their system. “A lot of people won’t come to the shelter because we have rules. They can come and stay for 14 days as an emergency shelter,” Lane noted. “After that, there is a stewardship program. Those who agree to enroll in it can stay up to 12 months. Those who refuse the help can’t stay past the 14 days.

In the new shelter, which Lane hopes to acquire the first of June, plans call for a family pod area where husbands, wives and their children can remain together during waking hours. Sleeping quarters for men and women and children, however, will be separate as Lane said “security and safety issues are our first priority.”

The building at 1520 E. Winona Ave., will more than double the space that is available at both the men’s and the women’s shelters presently. A separate large room in the back of the building will be renovated to host the monthly The Gathering meals, which are currently held at Center Lake Pavilion, and there will be worship services. “We have lots of plans and ideas for it,” Lane noted. “And, with our stewardship program for self sufficiency we started last year, it makes it a lot more efficient.”

Eventually, Lane said the shelter would be able to house a total of 50 men, women and children at one time. “We would start of slow though to learn how to use the building first,” he assured. But, with the growth rate that Fellowship Missions is seeing, it would not be long before the shelter would likely be fully utilized.

In 2012, Fellowship Missions homeless shelters served 156 adults and 52 children under the age of 14. That was up from 2011 when 142 adults and 26 kids were served.

“But we’re seeing results. Fifty-eight percent of our clients are now self sufficient living on their own,” Lane said.

In addition to waiting for BZA approval, Lane is waiting on an appraisal of the building. There is a private funder who has agreed to purchase the building for the shelter, and then Fellowship Missions would need to raise approximately $250,000 for remodeling. The K21 Foundation has already approved a $100,000 matching grant toward those efforts.

If all goes according to plan, Lane hopes to have the facility in Fellowship Mission’s possession by the first of June and be ready to utilize it as a home shelter by November.