NAMPA, Idaho — Being homeless is already difficult enough, but if you're homeless and then seriously injured where do you recover after being released from a hospital? That's a reality for some.
The Boise Rescue Mission is stepping in to help with a new facility.
The rescue mission's first recovery lodge is meant to meet a critical need here in the valley.
It's been in the works for a couple years and is set to open its doors in Nampa next month.
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“For us the need has been there since the beginning,“ said Boise Rescue Mission CEO and President Bill Roscoe. “This facility will be serving those people who are ready to be discharged from the hospital, but they're not quite ready for the 128-bed dorm at the River of Life.
“Two years ago we served a homeless mom and her newborn son who was critically ill and really needed a place to stay that was a level up from the dorm at City Light,” said Roscoe.
That newborn was the inspiration behind the recovery lodge.
“When we saw Henry the baby and his terrible situation it really motivated us to say we've got to find a way to serve people,” said Roscoe. “Homeless people who are coming out of the hospital that need a little extra level of care than what we can provide at the rescue mission shelter.”
On Wednesday, KTVB toured the facility ahead of the grand opening.
“This site will be for women and children, so there will be cribs in two or three of these rooms, and then we have the guest rooms and the best one to see today is room three,” said Roscoe.
The facility will house 30 to 45 guests who have had major surgery or a serious illness and may need a quieter place to recuperate.
“We have mothers whose infants are premature and for those people this shelter is going to be the place they come to that will offer them better supervision, much better interaction with the home health care and the medical professionals who are assigned to serve them,” said Roscoe.
The new facility is just steps away from the Valley Women and Children's Shelter.
“We really got a great deal on the property, the owner was really a friendly owner who wanted to help the rescue mission and we bought the building for $750,000, and it's appraised much, much higher than that,” said Roscoe. “People in the community have stepped up and donated money to buy the building.”
Others have also stepped in and donated to the project.
“It's a beautiful facility, it's in great shape, it's going to serve us really well for a long time,” said Roscoe.
The grand opening will be held on July 17. There will also be an open house.
The recovery lodge will open to the public on July 18.
Meantime, they still need help. The rescue mission is looking for both staff and volunteers.