Kansas City pastor converts abandoned hospital to house the homeless
A former hospital in Kansas City has been transformed into a facility that provides transitional housing for the homeless.
Pastor John Wiley first thought of turning the abandoned Park Lane Hospital into a housing facility named the River of Refuge seven years ago. He was able to fulfill his dream with the help of donors and volunteers.
"It feels surreal, you know seven years of believing it was possible," Wiley told CBN. "We've helped hundreds and hundreds of families over seven years but we couldn't bring them here and give them a transitional place. But now we can so here we are in a former 150,000-square-foot hospital dedicated to families living in homeless, (sic)" he added.
One company donated as much as $1.2 million for materials and labor. Another company gave $300,000 to build 11 units. The University of Missouri in Kansas City gave 200 bunk beds a week after the facility opened.
Wiley also received a large donation from viewers of the 700 Club. He was invited to the show by host Gordon Robertson after a story about the project appeared on the program. At that time, the donations from the program was the largest amount Wiley had ever received.
Mario Glynn, father of seven, was initially skeptical about River of Refuge. "I didn't even believe it was real," he said. "When I got in here I was sitting here waiting on like, 'What's the catch? Are we gonna have to stand on the corner and sell candy or something to stay?,'" he continued.
"But it wasn't a catch here they just genuinely want to see people do better," Glynn concluded.
Program director Stephanie Keck reported that almost 30 people had asked for the organization's help within the first day of launching the program. She said that an average of 20 people a week inquire about the facility.
River of Refuge initially opened in May but it celebrated its grand opening on June 2, 2016. The families who stay there are also provided with food and financial counseling to help them save for more stable housing.