After 12 years of constant use, Farmington’s primary homeless shelter is undergoing renovations under new leadership. To help fund the daily operations that serve hundreds of people each year, People Assisting the Homeless, or PATH, is turning to the community for support with its second annual Party in the Park.
The event, which also celebrates the organization’s 46th anniversary, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Berg Park Pavilion.
Amanda Arenas, who took over as PATH’s executive director six months ago, said the shelter serves roughly 516 people a year. The high volume has taken a toll on the facility, prompting the pursuit of major upgrades.
“Things were getting bad, and now we’re trying to fix it,” Arenas said of the 12-year-old building.
Recent grants and community yard sales have already funded new carpet and furniture. Now, Arenas is looking to repair the building’s air conditioning, purchase more computers for clients to use during job searches, and completely renovate the heavily used showers.
While grants cover some structural upgrades, the Party in the Park fundraiser is designed to pay for the shelter’s basic, everyday needs, such as hygiene products, pillows and utility costs.
The event will feature a mini car show, a bounce house, face painting and a “Jail & Bail.” The “Jail & Bail” is a fundraising activity where attendees can choose to “lock up” or send their friends to a mock jail. In order for the friend to be released, they must pay money to bail themselves out. All of the money raised from the activity goes directly to helping PATH.
PATH is actively working to transition Farmington’s homeless population into the workforce and permanent housing. Rather than just offering a bed, the shelter operates a 90-day working program.
Once employed, they must save half their income in a resident savings program to eventually afford a security deposit and their first month’s rent. PATH also offers 12 transitional apartments next door, where residents can stay as they learn to manage rent and utilities.
The shelter also relies on partnerships to keep its vulnerable clients healthy. Dr. Matthew DeKay of the Four Corners Foundation, the organization that originally provided PATH’s building, visits the shelter every Wednesday to offer free checkups to residents without requiring Medicaid.
Additionally, the shelter’s Daily Bread program provides a free meal to anyone in the community every weekday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a service Arenas hopes to eventually expand to weekends to ensure nobody goes hungry.
Arenas has taken a hands-on approach to the shelter’s revitalization. She has organized yard sales and food fundraisers, as well as organizing smaller renovations such as painting the faculty walls and acquired a larger television for the residents.
“This means a lot to me because I really care about the people here and I just want to help them succeed,” said Arenas. “I want to see them get into housing and find employment.”
Despite financial and structural hurdles of running the shelter, Arenas said the hard work pays off when she watches clients regain their independence.
“It’s really awesome to see them from when they first come in and they have nowhere to go and when they leave from here, they have a job, they’re getting ready to go to housing somewhere, they’re sober, they’re doing good. That’s just the highlight of my whole day.” said Arenas.
For more information, visit pathnm.org.
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