Medford, Ore. — Construction begins on Monday on the St. Vincent De Paul shelter. The month-long project will renovate each room. Coordinators say the work has been needed for quite some time now.
The project has created some controversy, with a timeline overlapping the holidays, but organizers say there couldn’t be a better time to get started. Shelter President Cathy Morgan said numbers show the month of December is the best time to start the work.
“The world thinks we’re being cruel, but actually this is the best time to do it,” Morgan said.
Most families end up staying with relatives over the holidays. If they’re not with family, churches often step in.
Monday is day one of the renovation. The project will replace the flooring, air vents, and appliances. More space will be created in the kitchen for families to cook, and in the rooms, all new bunk beds will be assembled.
Of the four families that had to move out, three were able to secure a paycheck.
“One family went to bend, he got a job as an electrician getting 25-bucks an hour,” Morgan said. “He was so excited, he got it the day he was supposed to move!”
Half of the project is being paid for by a $50,000 donation from Sacred Heart Church. The project is expected to wrap up in three to four weeks.
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