Kosciusko County Commissioners have agreed to apply for a Community Development Block Grant on behalf of Beaman Home and its new facility.

The Community Development Block Grant program provides communities with resources to address a wide range of community development needs. According to Ed Rock, who has been working with Beaman Home on behalf of the county, a county agency – namely the commissioners – must be the applicant for the grant.

Tracie Hodson and Sue Creighton of The Beaman Home, presented to the commissioners this morning a 6-minute video about the shelter for abused and how it benefits the community. They then showed plans for the new facility, which will be in the former Valentine law office building at 603 N. Parker St. in Warsaw.

The current shelter in Warsaw is an 1,800-square-foot home with three bedrooms. “Don’t get me wrong,” said Hodson, “the house has served us well for 30 years, but it’s not enough now.”

The new facility will have two-story residential quarters with two-bedroom suite areas that will each share a full bathroom. There will be up to 10 bedrooms, 5 baths and program and office areas will be separate.

“We serve 120 to 250 people a year, but statistics show that 1 in 4 women will be abused.” Hodson added, “In our service area, that means there are potentially 18,000 silent victims.”

To renovate the North Parker Street facility and construct the two-story residential section, Beaman Home needs $1.8 million. “We’re in the silent campaign phase now,” Hodson said. Creighton added, “We’re at 40 percent of the money reached now.”

The Community Development Block Grant would allow Beaman Home to move forward immediately with the project. “They’re ready to roll now,” Rock explained, “meaning we’re actually holding them up a little … They want to move forward now so it will clear (the grant) out as quickly as possible. That means if you’ve got any other construction projects to consider for the block grant, this would be moved off in 2 to 3 years.”

“What’s the downside?” in the commissioners applying for the grant, asked commissioner Bob Conley. Rock said, the only downsize is if there is another “construction” project that is immediately ready to go and would require the grant.

Conley also said he had concerns about the safety of the residents by the location of the facility being made public. Hodson replied, “I promise you that anyone can go to a gas station attendant and ask where we are they tell them. It’s not as secret as we hoped.”

Hodson also said they plan to utilize security measures based on other shelters that are public. During a May 29, 2012, Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals hearing in which the center received zoning approval, it was noted by Syracuse Police Chief Tony Ciriello, who is on the board of Beaman Home and oversees the security, there will be security cameras, the doors will be alarmed and the outside playground will be fenced-in. Security and anonymity are top priorities and there is at least one staff member on duty 24 hours a day 7 seven days a week.

Commissioner Ron Truex offered, “I’m not sure there’s a better way we can serve the community so I think we should roll with it.”

The vote passed unanimously. A public hearing on the matter will now be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26.