CHILLICOTHE, Ohio –– Driving down Eastern Avenue, one will notice a change at the former Eastern Avenue Lumber Company. The company officially closed on October 27.
Since closing, the Ross County Community Action Commission, Inc. (RCCAC), under the leadership of Julie Bolen, has purchased the building in hopes of making it a new homeless shelter.
According to former Men’s Shelter Director of 10 years, Greg Lewis, “Julie Bolen is one of the best things that has happened to this office (RCCAC). She went out and found the funding for a very much needed shelter.” Lewis continued by sharing that when he was running the shelter, many expenses were covered by donations from organizations and himself.
“There were U.S. Veterans who would come into the shelter and just need money for a bus ticket home,” Lewis continued. “I would just do it because funding was always tight.” At the time Lewis was directing the shelter, it was located in the Sherman Park Apartments. RCCAC was renting the shelter space. Lewis agreed that purchasing the Eastern Avenue Lumber Company building will greatly help the homeless problem, not just for men, but families.
RCCAC offers many different types of services related to housing assistance. They have the Rapid Re-housing program, Home Relief and Homeowner/Rental Assistance. With the homeless population in Ross County being prevalent, housing services and an emergency shelter are highly desirable social service supports.
Additional information is available at www.rccac.org or by calling 740-702-7222.