Sheffield Place Advisory Board Members turn over dirt for new residential recovery facility | Photo by Julia Williams

Julia Williams

Smells of fresh barbecue wafted and ‘80s music faintly wavered as Sheffield Neighborhood residents gathered Wednesday, Oct. 23 at the corner of Tenth and Newton Avenues to witness the groundbreaking of Sheffield Place’s third residential structure. 

Sheffield Place — a nonprofit organization, which provides assistance and safe housing for women and their children, in various recovery circumstances — was founded in 1991 with a mission to empower unhoused mothers and their children, to achieve independence and heal from trauma, according to its website. 

Beginning with one facility (6604 E. 12th St) and serving around 30 families, Sheffield Place has grown to operate two residential facilities — headquarters and SEVI House (1004 Newton Ave) — obtain 10 neighborhood homes and offer support to over 1600 families within its 33 years. 

Oct. 23 marked the groundbreaking for what will be Sheffield Place’s third residential recovery facility in operation. With a $3.6 million projected cost — and a motto of “Building for Tomorrow” — the organization plans to obtain proper permits tomorrow, Oct. 24, allowing Pearce Construction Company to begin construction for this capital fundraising campaign Monday, Oct. 28. 

Sheffield Place Advisory Board Members took their seats Wednesday as speeches were given by Executive Committee Chair, Lance Sandage and fellow member, Kathy Malone. 

“I fell in love with the heart of this place and [its] mission,” Malone said in a speech, Wednesday. “I am really proud to be a part of this.”

Karen, a current Sheffield Place resident — and mother of two — shared her journey over the past year through the program. 

“When I came in, I was a mess,” she said, Wednesday. “I went into SEVI and now [a] Sheffield House.” 

A board member additionally shared that Karen now works as part of her program and has received job promotions. 

The corner lot grew silent except for a round of applause and smiling faces as she shared, “I’ve never had a work promotion before in my life.” 

Board members stood to their feet and grasped shovels as they prepared to turn over dirt and embark on Sheffield Place’s next chapter.

Funded by private sponsors including Hall Family Foundation, Haggerty Family Foundation and the SEVI foundation to name a few, around 60 individual donations were also provided to make this project possible, said David Hanzlick, Sheffield Place program and development director. 

This one-story building plans to serve as an extension of sorts to SEVI House — offering similar benefits including residential housing. However, this facility will additionally offer aftercare, outpatient clinical services, which are currently only offered at the 12th St. location. 

“It will be transformational,” Hanzlick said, Wednesday. “It will allow us to serve outpatient and after care and [offer] group support on topics relevant to them, stretching the fold.”

Additional staffing roles will also be available including a peer support specialist and four office spaces, according to Clinical Director, Shelby Hasard and Children’s Case Manager, Sal Cochran. 

While there is no current name selected for this new facility, Hanzlick said he plans for completed construction no later than September 2025, weather permitting. 

Those interested in assisting Sheffield Place are asked to sign-up for its monthly newsletter, available on its website: https://www.sheffieldplace.org/, and follow its Facebook and LinkedIn platforms: @SheffieldPlace.