So I'm here on High Street in downtown Elkhart, and I'm here with Jim Dreyer.

Here's the executive director of Downtown Ministries.

And Jim, tell me a bit about the property that we're at now.

I know that it used to belong to another nonprofit organization who then gifted it to your organization, and you're putting in all the effort to turn it into something amazing now.

So tell me a little bit about that.

Yeah.

So we are so honored, honored to be able to work with Rita.

I read A gifted this house to us.

In return.

They're going to be able then to have been able to send us a women with children to live in this house and the two apartments that we be having here.

So that's going to be a real cool thing, is to really appreciate what Rita has done to get us really started here in the community.

And so up until now, has most of your work been in Goshen and now you're branching into Elkhart, or is it being all over the county?

No, it's it's all over Elkhart now.

We are in faith mission.

We have a teen group with with a job to life.

This comes from probation.

So we're super excited about what's happening here.

As we get we're going to be having additional classes here in this facility here.

So we are really ramping up here for the 1st of January.

And so I know that you've put in a lot of work.

It was amazing to get this house gifted to you, but I know that you've also done a lot of fundraising and a lot of spending on getting it up to code and and to a place that can really help your nonprofit and your mission at flourish and just continue to grow.

So let's head inside.

Let's have a look at some of the progress.

And I did get to see it about a year ago, so I'm excited to see how it looks now.

So let's head inside.

So Jim these floors, that's the most immediate big improvement that I see here.

It's amazing.

Yeah.

Who's your hardwoods?

They they they really get behind us.

And our real big supporter of ours, and they've come through here.

And a magnificent job.

Now it looks absolutely amazing.

So tell me a little bit about this space.

I know that you're going to have an open house here on December 10th, which I know that you're hoping, you know, viewers of Experience Michiana do come along to as well.

So the open House on December 10th at 2 p.m.. What are you hoping that people really learn about this space?

Like what's it all going to be used for, especially the room we're in right now.

So yes, I'm super excited for the The Open House because people are going to come here.

They're going to learn their classroom space, different classes we're going to offer here for the community to really help develop people, to help people change their lives.

So this space is going to be used a lot here in the future.

And I want people to understand how people can come to us and really help improve their lives.

Like one of the classes I'm familiar with is faith and finances.

And I know as well that, you know, it's it's all well and good to help people today.

But really, what you're trying to do is ensure that people just kind of can do their own thing in the future, because we all have habits that we've learned from, whether it's parents or our life or whatever, and we all have our good and bad habits, right?

And sometimes people just need the knowledge to be able to move forward on their own two feet.

Right?

So, you know, faith in finances, they're going to learn the track their expenses and say, oh, maybe I should be doing something different.

Maybe they see something like it.

Maybe you could change that.

And they also begin to realize, okay, maybe I can have an emergency fund because, you know, sometimes life happens and things take place where I need some extra money to be able to, you know, change things.

Yeah.

No.

And I know that's just one of the programs that you do.

But again, as we talk about this house and we talk about what's going to happen in here, it's great to never lose sight of the individual and the people who are struggling so much, and the people that you and your team every day, you know, work really hard to serve because it's most people want a better world and want to help people, but very few people do something about it.

And it's a big uphill challenge every single day, right?

For you and your team?

It is.

But you know what, people?

It doesn't matter how rich or poor they are, they have value.

Everybody has value.

How can we help them realize the value that they have?

Absolutely.

Well, this house is going to add massive value and I know they're going to love it so much.

So what else do you want to show us on here?

I mean, there's three floors in this.

There's a part where do you want us to go next?

Well, we can go ahead and go on spares.

Okay.

You want to head upstairs?

All right, let's do that.

So this is this is also going to be a classroom up here.

We'll have, kitchen cabinets here.

I'm going to actually make this a place for an emergency because, you know, we won't have some apartments that, for example, they can stay for a year and on transitional apartments.

But what about somebody in a domestic situation?

They got to get out.

And so we have a place here where someone can come and stay here and actually be safe.

Yeah.

And create a safe spot, that safe place where people can actually come and, you know, be able to figure out what's the next step is what motivates you.

Like what's your why?

Because again, it's the people you're helping.

They're in very messy situations.

And I think sometimes people don't like to dig into the reality of what they're going through.

But you talk about somebody being in a violent situation, they might literally grab their kids and run out of a house, and all of a sudden they're calling you, and this is where they're going to end up.

It's extremely difficult.

You know, that's an extremely difficult world.

What do you choose to do that?

Yeah.

Well, you know what?

Everyone needs a second chance.

I got a second chance when I was a teenager.

Yeah, I got second chance.

Somebody actually came and invested time and effort into me, and it changed my life.

So why not take that time and invest in somebody else?

Absolutely.

Yeah.

God's grace is good.

All right?

Absolutely.

And, you know, this is a great view as well.

I'm just going to say, okay, I wouldn't mind an office up here.

I love this view of how I can just.

Yeah.

And it's going to be interesting because that apartment complex.

Oh really.

Right here over there.

Yeah.

Okay.

So yeah.

So basically are we going to go up to the apartment, the classroom there.

There's another apartment here.

I don't want to see anything with this, but this is going to be the that you walk through.

This is going to be one apartment here.

And so be two official apartments.

Apartments are such an important part of your mission too, because again, financially, like apartments, the price of apartments has gone through the roof, no pun intended.

I mean, the cost of housing has gone up so much, but you're talking about somebody who might leave a domestic violence situation.

They don't have a deposit saved up, or maybe all the funds are.

Maybe they're being in a way held captive by money, too, because maybe they don't have access to it.

So that's so important.

I know that's just one scenario, but having housing is a big plus, right?

But if we can charge a low cost rent to get started.

You know, and they begin to actually go through that faith and finance class, be able to save money, maybe get them back on their feet where they actually can find a place that's more permanent.

Now, the third floor, when I came to visit a year ago was kind of dark and me, but I'm excited to see it now because it's changed quite a lot.

Right.

So all right, that's the story goes.

This apartment, first of all new steps over here.

We all we change the steps around.

Yeah.

Actually this actually was a little spot here where I also used a ladder to get up here years and years ago.

Because if you notice there's there's a numbers of about the doors.

There were nursing students who used to live up here.

This is phenomenal.

This okay I wish you could see the steel.

Do you have a photo from a year ago that we could show?

I would love if you have one.

You'll know if we found one as to whether it's on screen right now.

But this looks so incredible compared to a year ago.

This is the best kept secret about the whole project.

Yeah, I mean, I can live up here.

That's all I get about this is a phenomenal change.

It took place I'm up here.

So we're going to.

You're actually going to almost make two bedrooms up here okay.

You know, for a mom or children to live up here and super excited.

And we made it so that you've got plenty of light coming in.

Yeah.

For being up here.

And so this is this is great.

It is.

And again the open house is on December 10th.

We wanted to get in nice and early to give people time to actually like react to that and get ready for that.

And so you have some finishing touches.

So what's next on the list of things that you're going to do here just to finish the house off.

Yeah.

So we're going to be putting cabinets coming in.

Kitchen cabinets are coming in.

And then of course we'll finish the ceiling on first and second floor.

And you know we'll be putting in trim and just to really do a lot of the finishing touches.

So super excited to get this all wrapped up.

And you know, I can't even stress having seen this a year ago or more.

And when you did the official handover read, I got to see it.

The amount of work and effort and money that you put into fixing this, this was no small undertaking.

Right, exactly.

And so we're just so appreciative of the community coming beside us and helping us.

And it really is a community effort.

And you see what happens.

And so we're looking forward to the future.

And how are we going to use this space for, you know, many years to come?

Absolutely.

Hey, I always say when you do the right thing for the right reasons, people really step up and support you.

So I don't think you'll ever fail because you're doing it for the right reason.

So, congratulations.

I hope people come along on December 10th at 2 p.m.. I think it's going to be a great open house, and I just can't wait for people to see it in all its glory.

Thank you very much.

Appreciate you coming up here and promoting what's happening here.

And I know that for anyone who doesn't want to wait that long, you do have a your banquet that's coming up as well here soon on October 8th.

Can you tell me a little bit about that?

Yeah.

So we would have feature people actually have come through our programs and being able to see and see how those programs have helped change their lives.

And so it's an opportunity to see that happen.

It's going to be on Thursday, October 8th, and doors open at five.

Mill begins at 6:00.

And you can go on to Downtown Dog and Slash Banquet, and you can register to come to that event.

I'd love to have people come.

Absolutely.

And I know that's a big fundraiser and helps towards all the things that you're doing here.

So congratulations once again, thank you for showing us around.

And most importantly, I can't wait to see all the lives that are going to be transformed in this building.

So thank you for doing what you do.

Thank you.