Good News at Noon Director Ken Gossage was surrounded by donors, volunteers and interested Gainesville residents Saturday morning as the ribbon for the new homeless transition shelter was cut and tours were given. It was an event filled with smiles, hugs, hearty food and lively music.
The previous location for the shelter had become run-down and with a growing number of homeless people, it was struggling to keep up. Good News at Noon provides the homeless with meals, living quarters, access to computers and laundry services. They also assist with rehabilitating the homeless into jobs and housing. Gossage said the new location at 844 Dorsey Street will help them accomplish their goals.
“That's kind of the exciting part of this building is having things that we can offer them to participate in during the day and be more engaged and activities that we feel like will help them realize that, you know what, they've got a lot to offer and they can move forward in life,” Gossage said.
Good News at Noon typically sees around 1,000 individuals every year, with some coming and going, and others staying for several months at a time. Many who come through the doors looking for help are living out of cars, on friend’s couches, in hotels, or on the street. With housing prices on the rise, Gossage fears that the homeless dilemma will only continue to grow.
“It's a transitional program,” Gossage said. “So they have to do an intake and everything else to get into the program, we're mainly just looking for those that want change in their lives, want to get off the streets permanently. And if they've got that kind of attitude, then we feel like we're able to help them.”
Good News at Noon was started in 1987 by Gene Beckstein. Together with his wife Margie, they served lunches out of their own kitchen. The cause has since grown, with the new building providing all essential amenities, including showers, washers and dryers, internet, beds, food and more. The new location will be able to service 40 men and 20 women. The previous building housed 16 men, with 10 women being housed at a separate location.
Board Chairman Mike Underwood shared his excitement at how the new building will assist the critical mission of Good News at Noon.
“What we try to do is help those that are down to kind of get their footing again, when they come in, they gotta agree to want to get better,” Underwood said. “So we help them find their job, if they need a driver license, you know, we'll help get all that together. So they can go to work and get more productive and feel good about themselves and maybe reconnect with their families, or at least put them on a path to where they'll be successful.”
Underwood detailed phase two of their plans, involving another building on the property where they hope to construct individual units. These will be a longer-term living opportunity for the homeless who qualify, allowing them affordable accommodations while they save money to transition into a home or apartment.
Good News at Noon raised over $3.6 million in order to fund the new location. Underwood said the money came from many different avenues, including local churches, businesses, grants and individual donors.
“The name is so good that people know who Good News at Noon is,” Underwood said. “So it's just it. It brings volunteers on its own really, it brings money on its own. We—it's just amazing. We don't have to, even through the pandemic, we just didn't struggle. … It's just been amazing to see what God does.”
The transitional homeless shelter is set to fully open its doors in mid-November.
You can learn more about Good News at Noon and donate to their cause at https://www.goodnewsatnoon.org/.
