CONWAY, Ark. — Conway will officially open the Conway Emergency Shelter on Thursday, adding another way to help those unhoused in the city.
"We do realize that homelessness is growing across the nation, and Conway's homelessness population is growing as well," Conway's Community Development Administrator Shawanna Rodgers said.
On Wednesday, we got a look inside ahead of the public opening. The amenities are easy to see, and everything in the building is designed to help.
"That's something we thought about in building the facility," Rodgers said. "We need something separate where people can have those intimate conversations."
The shelter aims to provide people with the necessities to help get them back on their feet. This includes laundry facilities, a kitchen, beds and showers.
"They don't have to worry about it, 'Hey, where am I going to get detergent from?" Rodgers said. "They don't have to worry about, 'Am I going to have the change or the funds that I need to go to the laundromat?"
Rodgers said a significant focus for them was providing people with a warm place to sleep.
"When we began to look at where they would sleep, where our homeless neighbors would sleep, we began to think about where we would want to sleep," Rodgers said.
Everything in the space is designed to be as comfortable as possible.
"To make sure that we have something adequate for our homeless neighbors," Rodgers said. "That has been great and something we pride ourselves in being able to do."
This isn't a perfect fix, and Rodgers said this is a puzzle piece. However, Rodgers said they'd do anything they could to help.
"We want people that enter the doors of this building to be able to feel our heart, and our hearts are warm, our hearts are safe," Rodgers said. "Our hearts are towards them and ensuring they are provided the basic necessities."
Also included is a technology lab for those at the shelter to use for whatever they need.
The Conway Emergency Shelter is located at 1116 Gum Street.