Hospitality House seeks county help in move
By Scott Nicholson

The Hospitality House is exploring the possibility of consolidating its operations outside the town of Boone and has asked the county to consider a long-term lease of the Hannah Building.

John Cooper, a Hospitality House board member, brought the proposal to the county commissioners Monday. The organization, which offers food and shelter services, is seeking six months in which to determine if the Hannah Building could be converted into a homeless shelter and kitchen. The Hannah Building was formerly the site of the county health department off Brookhollow Road in the Bamboo area, and has been vacant since the new health department facility opened at the county’s Human Services park two years ago.

Cooper said the six-month window would allow for two feasibility studies: one to determine if the conversion is architecturally possible and the other to see if public support could raise the necessary funds. He said an architect had already begun preliminary work on designing a possible conversion.

The Hospitality House is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, and currently owns and operates three facilities in Boone. Cooper said the goal is to sell the three sites, which are more suited to commercial development. Two are located on King Street near the First Baptist Church and Appalachian State University and another is located downtown.

Cooper said the Hospitality House provided service to over 500 people last year, and said the area is plagued by underemployment. He said the organization’s ability to meet demands have diminished, and said the move would help it deliver services more efficiently. He said the move would also be mutually beneficial and help minimize the impacts their clients have on other social services.

After the six-month period, if the site is found suitable for renovation and funds can be raised, the Hospitality House would ask for a 45-year lease on the property at $1 per year. Cooper said the sale of the other three properties would pay for must, but not all, of the renovation and relocation costs.

Cooper said the Boone town council had passed a resolution in support of the move. Commissioner Keith Honeycutt suggested the town could contribute water and sewer service, which could reduce the cost of the move.

The commissioners have considered developing the Hannah Building into a business incubator, and discussions are underway with the Appalachian Regional Development Institute about the availability of Rural Center economic development grants. The county has offered the building for sale, but no formal bids have been submitted to the commissioners.

Cooper said the site would be ideal for the Hospitality House because it’s on an AppalCART route, is near the Rock Haven facility operated as an assisted living center by Hospitality House, and is near the Continuing Education Center of Watauga’s branch of Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute. Cooper said education fit in with the Hospitality House’s goal of returning their homeless clients to self-sufficiency.

In December, the Boone Town Council adopted a resolution in support of the Hospitality House’s relocation, though no specific site had been determined at the time. Two of the Hospitality House buildings are used for transitional housing, with clients generally restricted to short-term stays. The organization operates a “Bread of Life” meal program as well, though the shelter providing the meals has a standard-sized kitchen and room enough for 35 clients.

Cooper said a capital campaign would be need to come up with funds, since the Hannah Building’s roof needs to be replaced. Boone contributes over $10,000 a year to the Hospitality House and the county contributes $5,000, while the entire budget last year was $500,000. The shelter has two full-time employees and as well as part-time employees and volunteers.

The formal request submitted to the commissioners said below-average wages coupled with higher-than-average living costs forced many people into a “Chronic fiscal crisis. Survival based living naturally exacerbates stressors in other life areas, leading to family isolation, increased use of alcohol and other drugs, interfamilial conflicts, school and work problems, health problems and a substantial number of families and singles finding themselves in homeless situations . .  the need has overcome our current shelter beds.”

The Hospitality House turns away an average of four homeless people per night, and maintains a waiting list. The request also said the rural setting would “provide a healthy atmosphere away from some of the temptations of the present downtown location.” Some Boone residents and downtown merchants have complained about Hospitality House clients loitering on sidewalks and panhandling.

The commissioners reached a consensus to place the discussion on the agenda for their annual budget retreat in March. They invited Cooper and other Hospitality House representatives to address the commission at that time.