Johanna Pounds
Northeast News

In 1991, Sheffield Place opened their doors for the first time as a response to the growing homeless population of mothers and children. Sheffield Place contains three floors of bedrooms, and a basement that houses the Hope Project. Each bedroom hosts one family that can contain up to 5 children.

The Hope Project is a learning center for the youngest kids, as well as an individual space for teenagers to hang out and relax after school. There is also a large fenced-in playground in the back, where kids hang off monkey bars.

The walls of the Hope Project have hand turkeys made with marker, and construction paper from each the kids. Their names line the walls, and when talking to the caretakers for them, you can feel the love they feel for each child.

Sheffield Place has several other programs at its facility, including drug rehabilitation assistance, counselors for emotional support, and each family has a case handler to check in on them, and make sure they’re doing alright and everything is exactly the way they need it to be.

Every room has its own personal touch, like perfumes lining the window sill or a Christmas tree with homemade ornaments in the corner.

A woman currently staying in one of the bedrooms says that Sheffield Place has been a great safe haven for her.

“I used to be addicted to drugs, and although the rules can be pretty strict, it’s the best thing that has happened to me,” she notes. “It has created stability for me and my kid. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Sheffield Place has 9 permanent houses for people that have found they can move on from being in the main building. A 10th house should be done in about 2 weeks, weather permitting. Each house has adjusted rent based on income, and they can stay as long as they would like in the homes, though they normally stay an average of two years. All of them are within half a mile from the main building so they can have help at a moments notice.

The homes are furnished with donated couches and beds. The bed spreads have stars, and stripes on them. There are TVs and children’s toys strewn about, and you know a real family lives there.

Sheffield Place is always taking donations of toilet paper, paper towels, and other direct needs. If you’re looking to donate more, be sure to visit their website at: http://sheffieldplace.org/planned-giving