NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — The Jessamine County Homeless Coalition is asking for help to keep Nicholasville's only shelter open.

What You Need To Know

  • Jessamine County Homelessness Coalition needs community support to keep its Nicholasville shelter intact 

  • The coalition has been open since 2016 

  • It offers not only 50 beds for both men and women but also case management services, free meals and other resources 

  • The coalition's founder said it has nearly a month to secure necessary donations, funds and volunteers 

After families celebrated Thanksgiving almost nine years ago, Johnny Templin, the coalition's founder, gathered a team of volunteers and prepared for a special day.

With beds ready, they opened for their first day as the city’s only emergency shelter, a 50-bed, coed facility, along with full bathrooms, laundry facilities, case management services and free meals. 

Templin said the shelter's clients often need short-term care to get back on their feet.

“Some of us might not experience this version of homelessness, but it’s in our lives somewhere, whether it's a cousin or a brother and sister," he said. "It's been couch-surfing. Those are our clients here." 

The shelter relies on community involvement from donations to volunteers. That's why right now, they're asking for the community to commit to their cause.

The Jessamine County Homelessness Coalition can serve nearly 50 people at full capacity and offers a range of services, such as free meals, laundry facilities and case management services. (Spectrum News 1/Sabriel Metcalf)

For six years, a third of their income came from local sporting events. Only in 2021 did they experience a decline in finances.

“All of a sudden, it is down to just our regular donors, and we spent the last six months reducing as many costs as we can,” Templin said. “Our budget right now, a monthly budget, is less than what it was when we opened, and everybody except for the director of operations is back on a volunteer basis. Right now, they’re focused on keeping the shelter open month to month with nearly $4,400." 

“We've never been a government-funded organization, especially on a city or state level. We do get about a month and a half worth of grant money every year ... but it's very minor. So it's always been about donations or how we get out there and earn it ourselves." 

Templin close to 3,000 people have walked through the shelter's doors. 

“We know that there's a plan here and the community will support it," he said. "We're not going away. It just might look a little different.”

Templin said the shelter is seeking several staff and volunteers who can help with maintenance and upkeep. 

Donations to the Jessamine County Homeless Coalition can be made online, via check or in-person at the shelter on 218 E. Maple St. in Nicholasville. 

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