Lasagna Fundraiser Planned for Louison House| 09:24AM / Tuesday, August 09, 2016 | |
 Louison House director Kathy Keeser, right, and her staff at their temporary quarters at Flood House. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— The Louison House is hosting a lasagna dinner fundraiser on Thursday, Aug. 11, at Mingo's Sports Bar & Grill.
The fundraiser is to help the nonprofit family shelter that suffered water and fire damage at its Adams building several months ago.
Executive Director Kathy Keeser, who took over shortly after the blaze, said at least half the buillding will have to be gutted. And it will have to be brought up to new federal codes.
"We need to get it all done," she said, adding that planning has already begun for areas affected by the fire. "We're really unsure on other areas and other things to be done."
This fundraiser, along with a letter campaign, is taking place to assist Louison House in off-setting the unanticipated costs related to the fire.
The shelter is currently using Flood House, which it recently acquired from Housing Opportunities Inc., a local housing nonprofit that is dissolving its assets. The Church Street residence, too, will need work to be transformed into planned supportive apartment housing.
Keeser estimates it will take six months to get Louison House functional again. In the meantime, it's been unable to accommodate families with young children who need temporary housing because Flood House is not deleaded.
"We already had to turn down several families with young kids in the last week," she said. "We have room for families, but not if they have young kids."
Louison House has been addressing the issue of homelessness in Berkshire County since 1990. Over the past 20 years, it has provided homelessness prevention and housing services to more than 3,500 individuals and families throughout the county.
While the shelter does receive some federal funding, it needs to raise money now as it juggles bills and deals with problems related to the fire and the emergency move into Flood House. A capital campaign won't be able to kick off until after December.
Keeser said there is a bit of a "silver lining" despite the difficulties.
"This gives us the time to get Louison House done right with no one living there," she said.
There hasn't been an assessment on temporary and transitional housing needs in several decades and Keeser hopes to reach out to community in developing a plan going forward.
"The community has to determine what the community needs," she said, adding that it could be a chance to address the growing problem of teen homelessness, or consider other housing and supportive programs.
"Now it's looking ahead to rebuilidng of Louison and what needs to be done for apartments in Flood House," Keeser said.
Thursday's lasagna dinner will be served from 5 to 7, with free bowling for those attending the dinner during those hours. Local "celebrities" will be tending bar from 5 to 10. Local businesses have donated items for raffles.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by contacting the Louison House staff at 413-663-6323 or at kkeeser@familylifesupport.org.
Reservations are strongly encouraged to get a head count.
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