MICHIGAN CITY — The interior renovation project of Sand Castle Shelter for Homeless Families is moving forward according to schedule, thanks to community collaborators who helped Citizens Concerned for the Homeless (CCH) troubleshoot some potential issues.
“With projects like this, problems usually come up despite diligent planning,” said CCH Executive Director Jim Musial.
CCH, said Musial, secured six primary contractors who estimated that 12 weeks would be necessary to completely replace all plumbing lines and fixtures, install three new HVAC systems, upgrade electrical, gut and renovate four bathrooms, gut and renovate the shelter’s kitchen, strip and refinish all original flooring – which is over 100 years but solid as a rock – and replace of 36 shelter windows, among other upgrades.
According to Musial, CCH had a critical decision to make.
CCH is the parent organization that operates Sand Castle Shelter for Homeless Families, the Keys to Hope Community Resource Center, Grace Learning Center and CCH’s Food Rescue Initiative, all in Michigan City.
“The shelter would have to be closed for 12 weeks during the build-out and the issue was how we would address programming for current and future Sand Castle participants,” Musial said. “Because we primarily serve single moms with children, CCH decided to house the seven families that occupy Sand Castle at any given time by utilizing a local hotel for the full 12 weeks,” he added.
When a family graduates and leaves the hotel, Sand Castle will enroll another family to take the room.
“Despite the enormous cost, programming would remain the same, just facilitated from a different location,” Musial said.
Musial noted CCH began negotiating with a local hotel in November 2023 to be ready to go April 1.
When CCH posted the decision on social media, it received a call from Gail Johnson at the La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau with an offer of help. Working with local hotels is what they do daily, according to Johnson.
Johnson and Chelsea Miller of LCCVB began working with the hotel on rates as well as making a financial donation to be used toward hotel costs. However, two days before the participants were to relocate, the hotel informed CCH they could not help, as corporate decided to close half of the hotel’s rooms for bathroom renovations.
Miller recommended to Musial to call Baymont by Wyndham. Paul Mehta, general manager of Baymont, not only guaranteed seven rooms, but gave a discount on room rates.
“Special thanks to Baymont by Wyndham and La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau for coming together to help CCH avoid a major problem at the very beginning of the project,” Musial said.
In addition to the residents relocating to Baymont, Sand Castle Shelter had to be completely emptied as the entirety of the shelter is being renovated.
CCH, said Musial, has enjoyed a four-year relationship with Friends of Beverly Shores coordinator Linda Wagner, heading the local not-for-profit organization.
Friends of Beverly Shores, through Wagner, has collaborated with CCH Operations Director Tammy Rosebaum, donating whatever the needs of the participants are at any given time, according to Musial. Further, Friends of Beverly Shores has been a Christmas partner of CCH, adopting multiple families so parents and children alike could enjoy a Merry Christmas despite their circumstances.
“Once again being generous to the needs of CCH, Linda Wagner offered Friends of Beverly Shores Storage facility to provide a home for all the supplies and other equipment removed from Sand Castle Shelter for the duration of the renovation, all at no cost to CCH,” Musial said.
“In addition, they offered additional space so CCH could continue with their furniture rescue program,” he added.
CCH with all its programs, said Musial, relies on collaborations with community partners.
“In this instance, La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Baymont by Wyndham and Friends of Beverly Shores all are partners to the renovation project. It truly takes a village,” he said.
CCH asks anyone willing and able to donate to the renovation project to visit www.cch-mc.org. Until the end of April, the Health Foundation of La Porte will match, dollar-for-dollar, all donations made to CCH.
