Changes on the horizon for My Father's House

Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photo Allen Schellack, director of My Father's House Community Outreach Center, looks over some donated food items in the kitchen of the local assistance agency, which is preparing for changes in October. One of those changes will be the name of the organization, which as of Oct. 1, will be Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries.

Some changes are coming down the pike for a local community assistance agency.

As of Oct. 1, the My Father's House Community Outreach Center, which provides outreach and day services to rural homeless people and those in need in the Fort Scott/Bourbon County area, will be known as Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries.

With the name change comes some other differences for the center, such as losing its annual HUD (Housing and Urban Development) financial assistance, Allen Schellack, director of the local center, said.

"We lost our housing grant," Schellack said. "We housed the homeless for six counties. We were the anchor for Bourbon, Allen and Linn counties. HUD had to redo the housing grants. The transitional housing became defunded. We still do referrals to other agencies."

The center did not operate as a shelter but contracted with landlords to provide housing with the goal of having families take over the lease.

Schellack said the center will not see a change in services provided to area residents. Services include laundry facilities, showers, bathrooms, computer and Internet access, and phone access. The center hopes to add food and transportation services in the future.

Schellack said the center and other local assistance agencies share services and help the others out when needed. He said the agency also provides a "listening ear" when needed.

The center provides clothing, hygiene supplies and currently, there is "limited food" available.

"If you're hungry, we'll feed you," he said. "You shouldn't leave hungry or thirsty from this building."

Schellack said he believes local assistance agencies are "not competing" with each other as they all have the same goal to provide help in the community.

"We see people in need and take care of them," he said. "We're sponsored by the community and here for the community."

My Father's House Community Services originated in Paola and launched in 2003.