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Single-digit temperatures and negative windchills are set to remain in Mountain Home for the next few days.
If you are without shelter or living in a vehicle in Baxter County and need a warm place to ride out the winter weather, The Reach Center is still open to those in need of assistance. Those without a private residence are encouraged to find shelter of some sort while the weather persists.
Exposure to single-digit weather and negative wind chills can lead to death or serious bodily harm over time.
Started by Real Life Church in 2021, The Reach Center has spent the last three years providing shelter and services to the homeless population in Mountain Home and Baxter County.
The center began its life following a snowstorm that managed to catch the City of Mountain Home and the Salvation Army off guard. As the city struggled with freezing temperatures, Adams reached out to Jeff Quick, CEO of the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas, to come up with a fail-safe plan to ensure that the homeless had a shelter to go to during inclement weather.
Both Adams and Quick approached Real Life Church about using their auditorium, which was quickly converted into a 40-cot shelter that provided meals, showers and laundry service. The shelter was overseen by 50 volunteers.
In addition to the shelter, Real Life Church took the opportunity to begin helping those who used the shelter to learn new life skills and reenter the workforce.
The shelter was a success and eventually became its own separate organization. As it continued to grow, The Reach Center began looking for a new location, eventually landing at 2335 E. Arkansas Ave.s
The Reach Center’s new location features a large, general population room that sleeps 25 individuals at a time. Each guest at the center receives their own bed, which is partitioned off from the other beds by three dividers. Men and women are divided on each side of the space, with a row of community tables dividing the room.
Each room in the center is under 24-hour surveillance and features multiple cameras and microphones. A staff member will be present at the center at all times.
After checking in and receiving a bed at the center, guests will receive a fresh pair of sweatpants and will be assigned a personal laundry basket that will stay next to their private bed space. All guests will be required to shower each day and must shower immediately after checking in with staff.
Following the shower, guests will be asked to begin doing their own laundry. Both the showers and the laundry room are currently in an outside trailer but will eventually be moved inside after the center finishes its work on the bathrooms.
Indoor toilets for men and women are currently available. The center will be closed for a short time in the warmer months of 2024 to install a mandatory fire sprinkler system and finish its renovations. Once completed, the center will operate year-round.
All personal items such as cigarettes and legal medication will be placed in an assigned locker that will be overseen by staff. No drugs or alcohol is allowed at The Reach Center. Guests will be allowed to check out cigarettes from their lockers for smoke breaks throughout the day.
A large family room featuring bunk beds is also available for families that are in need of shelter. This room is separate from the general public and has its own door. The center’s rec room, which features couches and a large television, can also be converted to another family room if needed.
The Reach Center is the only homeless shelter in Baxter County that offers facilities for homeless children and full families.
All beds within the center are designed to combat the spread of bed bugs. Guests may stay for a total of three months before being asked to leave.
During their stay, guests will receive meals throughout the day, and will also be allowed to cook food for themselves in the center’s half kitchen. The kitchen features a fridge and several toaster ovens.
Throughout the day, guests will be required to participate in planned activities and may not stay in their bunks.
The Reach Center offers basic life skills classes covering topics like finances, job application building, interviewing skills, parenting, basic home and auto care. These courses are not mandatory but are highly recommended. Guests will also be asked to help volunteer to clean up and assist in other activities while staying at the center.
Staff will also assist guests in signing up for Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other government programs. Director Vanessa Barrow said the center will also assist guests in getting their driver’s licenses if they do not have legal identification.
Guests will also be pointed to other partner programs like Serenity or Gamma House if needed. The Reach Center is currently partnered with medical and mental health professionals at Baxter Health. The center also has 10 trained mentors to assist guests in learning the life skills needed to get back on their feet.
