Homeless shelter on the way for Durant locals
The I’m-Possible facility is undergoing renovations, but will soon offer showers, grooming areas, laundry facilities, mental health services and housing to the homeless of Durant.
November 18, 2019
It is no secret that Durant has a homeless issue and one member of the community is working to bring these displaced individuals new hope. Michelle Chester founded I’m-Possible, Inc. in 2015 and has since been working to create a facility to offer aid to homeless individuals.
The facility is currently being remodeled and still requires a $19,000 sprinkler system before it can open its doors. It is a nonprofit that relies solely on community donations to operate.
Once open, the shelter will offer services such as showers, grooming areas, laundry facilities, mental health services and housing to those individuals in need.
The I’m-Possible mission is to, “Receive, Rebuild and Return.” Chester says her main goal is to rebuild people’s lives so they do not return to the streets.
“I want to better the legacies of these individuals,” she continued, “Poverty and instability can be a family cycle and I hope to break that cycle for these individuals through I’m-Possible.”
Former City Manager, Tim Rundel, experienced dealing with homelessness first-hand in several cities that he previously managed. According to Rundel, the main factors leading to homelessness in Durant are mental health and addiction.
He believes that, as a state, the people have turned their backs on mental health and addiction issues for decades; putting their focus on incarceration as opposed to rehabilitation.
Rundel’s experience managing other cities led him to say Durant is not helping homeless individuals to its full potential.
“Some cities are creating warming shelters for the homeless in the winter months,” he said.
He stressed bringing humanity back into dealing with homeless, saying, “We must stop treating the homeless as criminals and find ways to get them back on their feet and back on a safe path.”
Both Chester and Rundel stressed the need for community support in the process of rebuilding these individuals’ lives.
Further information on I’m-Possible, Inc. can be found on their Facebook page.
Lisa russell • Oct 15, 2020 at 6:28 pm
I have been struggling to make I have recently come to a dead end street at 56 old I’m homeless in and out of a relationship it would be great to be part of this and have someone I know I can depend on to help me to be a productive member of society some to help me some members of society don’t want help but I have been saying if I had the help I need to get out and work I could and would be a more productive member sometimes some of us just need the means and tools to get a job and could be the person that we know we can be that’s called giving someone hope
Emily Dahl • Oct 16, 2020 at 12:16 pm
Hi, Lisa. We are so sorry to hear about your situation, but we are glad you commented on our article. We want to find you some help. If you are interested, there is a local organization that offers a friendly helping hand to those in need. Boots on the Ground is run by a man named Kenny Gardner. He would be more than willing to give you some help and get you started on being successful and productive. Check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BOTGDurantOK/. We will also be sending you an email with this information. Stay safe and stay well, friend. Thank you for reaching out.