For a place as contentious as Westport — some folks opposed building a playground at Compo, and half the town thought building a nuclear power plant on Cockenoe Island was just ducky — you’d think putting a homeless shelter in the heart of downtown would ignite World War III.
But you would be wrong.
As Homes with Hope prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Gillespie Center on April 9 with a video and reception, it’s a great time to look back on the origins of one of the first shelters in a suburban town, anywhere in the US.
Sure, there was a bit of debate about the opening of Westport’s first homeless shelter in 1984, at the former Vigilant firehouse (where OKO restaurant is now, in the parking lot between Bartaco and National Hall).
The Vigilant Firehouse on Wilton Road, circa 1977. In 1984, it became the town’s first men’s shelter.
But the moral leadership of Reverend Pete Powell, Reverend Ted Hoskins, Rabbi Bob Orkand and businessman James Bacharach, plus town support from 1st selectman Bill Seiden, human services director Barbara Butler and David Kennedy, tamped much of the controversy.
A few years later, as Arthur Tauck redeveloped National Hall into an inn, moving to Jesup Road — catty-corner from the police station — made sense.
Many hands helped make the new 15-bed home possible. (The toilets were rescued from a Beachside Avenue home that Phil Donohue was razing.)
A 5-bed facility for women — now called Hoskins Place — was built next to the men’s shelter, when the Westport Transit District office moved.
Over the years, the Gillespie Center’s conversion from a beat-up old maintenance shed behind what was then the Fine Arts Theater (now Barnes & Noble) to a well-maintained shelter has enhanced the look of the entire area.
The Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place — Westport’s men’s and women’s shelters. (Photo/June Rose Whittaker)
Less visible is what goes on inside. But the men and women who seek shelter there — and others who use the very active food pantry — know and appreciate the hard work and tremendous care given by Homes with Hope to many in town over the past 40 years.
For 4 decades the Gillespie Center — the name honors Jim Gillespie, the 1st president of Homes with Hope (then called the Interfaith Housing Association) — has provided housing, meals and hope to thousands of men and women.
And many more Westporters than that have contributed food, setup and cleanup help, equipment and funds to keep that hope alive.
Several years ago, Dolores Bacharach and Rev. Pete Powell reminisced about the early days of what is now Homes with Hope. Both are featured in the new video, to be shown April 9.
Homes With Hope has grown significantly since 1984. In addition to emergency shelter for men and women, and the community kitchen and food pantry, today the non-profit agency provide supportive housing for individuals and families, rapid re-housing, diversion services, youth development programs na mentoring.
The staff develops individualized case management plans with sustainable solutions, so clients can achieve and maintain independent lives
If you’re looking for controversy — or a story about an affluent suburb that shunned its homeless — stay away from the Gillespie Center. You won’t find it there.
All you’ll see are beds, meals, and Westport’s support for our fellow humans, down on their luck.
(The April 9 celebration of Homes with Hope’s 40 years features a documentary film by Livio Sanchez, including interviews with some of the founders. For more details, contact CEO Helen McAlinden: hmcalinden@hwhct.org.)
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This is a remarkable anniversary, and hope to be able to see the video screening celebrating the 40th anniversary and accomplishments of this organization.
And a HUGE shout-out to current CEO, Helen, who tirelessly steered the shelter through an unprecedented pandemic and has helped so many people in myriad ways.