The Shadow
The Safehome Systems shelter in Covington is now open after undergoing renovations.
The facility reopened Thursday, Nov. 14, to house victims of domestic violence and their families after the completion of the two-month long renovation process.
Safehome also has a new executive director, Layna Hansley, who came on board in September.
Some of the renovations to Safehome include updates to the rooms where residents stay while at the shelter. There are single-person rooms, handicapped accessible rooms and family rooms (that can also be used as a multi-person room if necessary.)
“Our Executive Director Layna Hansley came aboard in September and then she had a vision where the space would be more open,”?stated Kym Carroll, who works as a survivor services director for Safehome Systems, Inc.
Carroll also stated that in addition to the shelter space being more open, Hansley’s vision of the shelter post renovation would be more inviting to the residents.
Carroll said that she and her colleagues reached out to individuals in the community to see if they would participate in an adopt-a-room type endeavor.
Carroll said an example of something an individual could do if they adopted a room was painting.
Another employee that Carroll gave credit to during the renovation process was Housing and Supportive Services Coordinator Carmen Landis.
“She is in charge of the residents and the shelter and making sure everybody has what they need. She partook in a lot of the renovations by going room to room making sure every room had linens and personal hygiene items,” Carroll said.
Carroll also said of Landis’ efforts during the renovation, “She did a lot of cleaning, and we cleaned from top to bottom. She took the lead on that.”
Landis also led the organization of the donation center, activity center and counseling areas during the renovation period.
Going back to the room adoption program, Carroll stated that Good News Church adopted the handicapped accessible room and said that a great job was done completing that room.
Carroll said that a major purging of items within the shelter was done in order to accommodate the vision of a more open, inviting space for shelter residents.
According to Landis, who spoke briefly of the renovation, two large dumpster bins were filled during the purge.
Carroll said that during the renovation period, residents were taken in, but full fledged housing was not a feasible option until the renovation was complete.
An open house was held recently which drew a large turnout from the community and staff from Project Horizon of Lexington.
“Our sister shelter, Project Horizon, we had some of the staff come from there to support us, support Layna and support our transition of getting Safehome back open,” Carroll said.
Project Horizon also helped Safehome Systems Inc. by taking in referred residents during the renovation period.
Landis gave remarks of how she felt after the renovation process concluded.
“I’m just glad everything is situated the right way, we can start housing people again and start offering our services to more people,” she said.
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This common area at Safehome Systems in Covington provides basic comforts of living to those staying at the facility. While the shelter was recently closed for renovation, Safehome utilized its sister shelter in Lexington, Project Horizon. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
