HAPCAP is set to receive a $2 million grant from the state to transform Athens Sunset Motel on 135 Columbus Road into an emergency relief shelter for unhoused individuals.
Jessica Stroh, HAPCAP’s community service director, said HAPCAP began discussing solutions to support unhoused individuals in Athens in January.
“The issue of unhoused individuals and that need in our community really came to the top of priority for a lot of folks in the organization,” Stroh said. “We started looking around for different grant opportunities.”
HAPCAP first heard about the grant opportunity through the Ohio Department of Development in July.
“We had a committee of the coalition work to put together that application, and that’s the basic information,” Stroh said. “It was a time crunch, but it was very fun. It was very collaborative.”
HAPCAP decided to utilize Athen’s Sunset Motel because the grant had specific parameters about eligible property types.
Kelly Hatas, HAPCAP’s executive director, said one of the grant requirements was to utilize an existing space, meaning they couldn’t construct a new shelter. Hatas also said the shelter must be adequate and provide each individual with their own living space.
“It identified that the shelter must be non-congregate, meaning we couldn’t just have folks on cots in a gymnasium,” Hatas said. “Everyone had to have their own private living spaces, their own private bathroom, a sink separate from the bathroom so that they could prepare food.”
With these requirements, HAPCAP contacted Athens Sunset Motel to see if they would like to provide a space.
“We just called them and told them a little bit about our project and asked them if they would have any interest in selling, and the rest is history,” Hatas said.
Stroh said the organization has two years to open the emergency shelter once the grant is received.
“There will be a significant rehabilitation of the property that goes in order to make it suitable for the shelters,” Stroh said. “We’re looking at hopefully serving our first person in spring of 2026.”
Stroh said HAPCAP is now focused on community engagement and spreading awareness of the project. Additionally, HAPCAP will send surveys to gauge the city's and citizens’ concerns and questions.
Hatas estimated HAPCAP will rehabilitate 20 units with 38 beds.
“We can kind of be flexible with that number of beds depending on an individual or family’s housing needs,“ Hatas said.
Eva Bloom, HAPCAP’s development director, said the shelter will provide sanctuary to those unhoused individuals; however, it is not a permanent housing destination.
“I think the overall goal is to provide a safe, secure place for individuals who are facing housing insecurity to find their next step,” Bloom said.
Bloom said HAPCAP understands these individuals' struggle to find affordable housing in Athens, as there is a shortage throughout Athens and the rest of Ohio.
“We understand that the challenges to move from shelter to stable affordable housing are great, but without some foundation under your feet, it can be almost impossible,” Bloom said.
Kerry Pigman, executive director of Athens County Foundation, said the Athens Co-Create Housing Security Coalition includes 40 organizations that have identified issues with housing in Athens.
“Over 40 organizations and many more community members identified a critical gap in our housing ecosystem of not having enough low barrier emergency shelter beds in the county,” Pigman said.
Bloom said Athens should understand the project is being developed and HAPCAP is open to feedback via survey.
“We would like to work together with anyone who has an interest to make sure that we are creating the best possible version of this project,” Bloom said. “That’s going to be something that the whole community can be proud of.”
