Salina's Community Resource Center hosting open house before it opens in new location
Salina Grace is celebrating its next step in being a resource to the community this week as it hosts an open house before officially opening the new location of its Community Resource Center.
Salina Grace said the community is invited from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday to the 315 S. Broadway Blvd. location, next to Ace Hardware to explore the new facility and learn about what services it will offer when it opens on April 1.
The center is moving from its 142 S. Seventh St. location two years after it opened its doors in response to the need for a central, single location for individuals in need to go and begin receiving immediate assistance from several different agencies and organizations.
"While Salina has many resources in our community, they are spread out across town, and many individuals do not understand which services are provided by which organizations," Salina Grace said in a statement about the resource center. "The Community Resource Center’s goals are to remove the barriers of transportation limitations and a lack of knowledge about the types of assistance provided in the community while advocating for those who have trouble advocating for themselves."
What services does the Community Resource Center offer?
According to Salina Grace, over the past two years, the center has impacted more than 800 people in the community, providing services including the following:
Community Navigator: Helping individuals get connected to the organizations best suited to help them with their specific situation.
Coordination of Care: Many individuals require assistance from multiple organizations to address various challenges such as housing instability, mental health issues, substance abuse, lack of identification and food insecurity. The resource center’s coordination of care supports individuals by facilitating collaboration among various agencies.
Day Shelter: A safe space offering a respite from the elements and access to essential services for both the homeless and those in housing who are seeking community interaction.
Hot, nutritious lunches: Provided by Christ Cathedral’s Welcome Table with the support of a few other local churches.
As the Community Resource Center moves to Broadway, Salina Grace said it will allow these services to be more streamlined and will able to bring more services to the table.
"Through a collaborative effort, the center will house service providers such as Central Kansas Mental Health Center (CKMHC) which offers essential mental health support to individuals," Salina Grace said. "Additionally, People In Need (P.I.N.) will be moving into the new center."
P.I.N. offers financial management services to people on fixed income to help them allocate funds in appropriate ways to pay for essential expenses such as rent, utilities and food, all as a homelessness prevention measure, helping individuals retain housing.
How has the Community Resource Center been funded?
Salina Grace said the resource center was established and has been able to continue to assist individuals in the community because of support from several funding partners.
These partners include Salina Regional Health Center, The Earl Bane Foundation, Greater Salina Community Foundation, the City of Salina, Saline County, Trinity United Methodist Church, Sunrise Presbyterian Church, Dane Hansen Community Grant Fund, YW Legacy Fund, and numerous members of the community.
"Their contributions reflect a shared commitment to enhancing the well-being of Salina’s residents and ensuring that no one is left behind," Salina Grace said. "It is also important for the community to know that private donations are vital to helping meet the ongoing operational costs required to deliver these valuable services. Support can be given through the organization’s website, www.salinagrace.org."
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina Grace Community Resource Center hosting open house
