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By VICKI URBANIK A Porter County agency that serves the homeless has itself become temporarily homeless as a result of Monday’s ferocious storms. Housing Opportunities, Inc. just moved into a new office at 954 Eastport Centre on the east side of Valparaiso on Monday morning of last week. “And Monday night, the storms took it away,” said executive director Caroline Shook. Although staffers were able to retrieve most client files, Shook said everything else in the office – computers, desks, and other office equipment -- was destroyed. The agency is now conducting its business outdoors, in a makeshift office under a canopy. Phone calls to the office are automatically routed to cell phones. “So people calling in don’t even know we’re sitting in the middle of a field under a canopy,” Shook said. Shook said the owner of the building has been extremely helpful and is in the process of setting up available space in the building for a temporary office for Housing Opportunities. In addition, Shook said the United Way of Porter County and the Porter County Community Foundation have offered help with office space. Shook said the agency doesn’t expect to move back into its regular office for another two or three months. Monday night’s storms, which seem to have caused much more damage in the Valparaiso area than in the county’s north or southern areas, caused major damage to the entire building at Eastport Centre, but particularly to Housing Opportunities’ new office. Shook said services for the agency’s clients continue. The organization doesn’t typically have a great deal of walk-in traffic, as clients typically communicate via phone with their case managers. In fact, since the staffers don’t have a regular office to work out of, Shook said clients will probably see more of their case managers in the coming days. “For our clients, it’s been almost seamless,” she said. Although Housing Opportunities has insurance, Shook noted that insurance might not cover everything lost. In the meantime, the agency is seeking donations of office materials, such as old computers, desks, and tables. Anyone who can donate items should call 548-2800. Housing Opportunities began in January, 2000 as a not-for-profit branch of Opportunity Enterprises. The agency, now independent from OE, provides a number of housing programs for the disabled and low-income individuals, including affordable housing units, transitional housing, reduced-cost new home sales, and home buyer education programs in Porter, Lake, Starke, Pulaski and LaPorte counties. Its website is
Posted 8/7/2008
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