A lack of funding nearly caused the House of Neighborly Service to shut down in 2008, but now the social-service program is under new direction and a number of new programs are being offered to the community.
A lack of funding nearly caused the House of Neighborly Service to shut down in 2008, but now the social-service program is under new direction and a number of new programs are being offered to the community.
Non-profit organizations like Our Family Services and Humane Borders also helped resurrect the community center.
"House of Neighborly Service (HNS) is alive and well," says Frank Bouchard, president of the HNS board. "We get to re-invent ourselves. The sky is the limit."
The hiring of Aaron Phillips, facilities manager and bookkeeper, was a key addition. Phillips, who started working in February, has already made a strong impact on HNS and the community it serves.
Founded in 1948 at 243 W. 33rd St., HNS ran successfully for 60 years before a $50,000 budget shortfall forced it to close for one month in September 2008. But now the board has taken measures to manage the budget and prevent this from happening again.
"We have a good, sound footing on the budget," Bouchard says. "We want to become more proactive."
Phillips agrees that HNS's plan will yield success.
He said the problems that forced the organization's closure in 2008 were logistic ones that were resolved fairly easily.
HNS gets most of its funding from Pima County, private donations and Presbytery de Cristo – the southwestern division of the Presbyterian Church USA. Volunteers make the programs that HNS offers free to the community.
Bouchard and Phillips envision many other possibilities for the community, which include a community garden, bible study, renewing the food distribution program, construction classes and healthy-cooking classes.
