Jacksonville Builders Help Fund New Homeless Shelter
In conjunction with Trinity Rescue Mission's “Partners in Hope” fundraising campaign, the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) recently presented a check for $557,000 — representing $215,000 in cash contributions and donations of in-kind services — to help construct a much-needed Women’s and Children’s Emergency Shelter serving the Jacksonville area. The 14,000-square-foot facility is designed to meet the needs of 100 homeless women and children and is projected to serve at least 1,200 of them annually. It will include several small dormitories for single women and private rooms for each mother with children. The shelter also will include a child-care center, a medical clinic, a playground, a common living room, a laundry room, a small kitchen and counseling rooms for individual counseling and case management by Trinity Mission staff. It is estimated that on any given day there are 1,040 women and children without homes in Jacksonville and many are unable to even find a place to spend the night because the city’s 18 shelters and transitional housing agencies are full. “This is a great opportunity for NEFBA to help provide housing for those who need it the most — homeless women and children,” said Greg Matovina, immediate past president of the association. “Having four daughters of my own, the plight of these homeless women and children really hits home with me.” Matovina & Co. is providing the site work for the shelter at no cost, and other association members are assisting through the donation of labor and materials. Ken Kuester and the Florida Building Materials Association are donating the lumber and truss package. Williams & Rowe is spearheading the project by providing all construction management services free of charge. Substantial cash contributions from Howard White of North Florida Builders, A Woodside Community, and Ken Atlee of Kendale Land Development helped push the association’s cash contribution over its goal of $200,000. A fundraising goal of $2 million has been established to build and furnish the center and staff it for the first two years. For information about the shelter and how you can help, contact Daniel Davis at NEFBA at 904-725-4355, or Greg Matovina at 904-292-0778. Or click here to visit Trinity’s Web site. | 
