Fortify Life announces renovations to Fortify Home

Fortify Life, a DeKalb County based non-profit organization, is excited to announce a partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and Community State Bank. As part of this partnership and the Affordable Housing Program, Fortify Life has been awarded a grant for $600,000 to provide much needed renovations to Fortify Home, a local emergency and intermediate housing facility in Auburn.

Through the collaboration of many non-profit organizations in DeKalb County, it was identified that homelessness and housing crisis needs were grossly unmet. Fortify Life wanted to be part of the solution. In 2021, Fortify Home opened its doors, and it continues to support individuals and families from DeKalb County who are experiencing a housing crisis. Currently the facility offers 13 rooms. For the program Neighbors, these rooms represent a fresh start. Here, they partner with Fortify Home team members to address basic needs such as food and healthcare before focusing on long term goals such as employment, childcare, and ultimately stable housing. Most Neighbors spend 5 to 6 months at Fortify Home before transitioning to permanent housing. While the work done through Fortify Home is impacting lives by itself, they also pride themselves on being one of the very few shelters in the region that allows family units to stay intact during their stay.

“When we think about homelessness in DeKalb County it isn’t the image we see on national news – there aren’t tent cities and camp sites in downtown Auburn,” said Mitch Figert, Executive Director of Fortify Life. “Instead, homelessness looks like sleeping in cars in local parking lots, couch surfing at family and friends’ places, seeking shelter in abandoned properties, and staying in dangerous relationships.  Our team receives 30-40 requests each week for housing assistance from individuals and families in DeKalb County.”

The Affordable Housing Program grant, awarded by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBI) helps fund the acquisition, construction, and/or rehabilitation of properties for use as affordable rental or ownership in a multitude of housing solutions.  Since 1990, the FHLBI has awarded more than $283 million to create or rehabilitate single-family and multi-family housing in Indiana and Michigan. Affordable Housing Program grant funds are awarded through an annual competitive application process.

“The whole premise of the Affordable Housing Program grant is to positively impact our communities, and Community State Bank takes pride in having customers who are deserving recipients of these funds,” said Tim Kuhnen, Commercial Banking Manager at Community State Bank. “As a community bank, our whole goal is to meet the needs of our neighbors – the people we see at the grocery store or at our child’s soccer game – but our reach can only go so far which is why we are thrilled for our partnership with Fortify Life and the FHLBI. It is proof that when community members work together and focus on each other, we can make a lasting impact that will benefit generations to come.”

The planned renovations at Fortify Home include basic room updates, the creation of community program space, an addition of basic amenities, and increasing energy efficiencies in the building’s mechanical systems. Once the renovation is complete, the former Days Inn property will include 24 rooms, of which two will be ADA-accessible. The center core of the facility will also be gutted and reimagined to create a program space that will allow up to 40 individuals to participate in community programming such as financial education, healthy cooking, and community-supported meals. The center core will also add on-site laundry for program Neighbors, a kitchen for preparing food, and office spaces for case management and partner meetings. Additionally, throughout the construction process, there will be a focus on energy and operational efficiencies to maximize the investment being made in the property.

“The renovation project at Fortify Home will allow us to better serve our neighbors in need by providing basic amenities – well-lit and functional rooms along with a center core area with a shared kitchen, laundry, and programing facilities,” said Rudi Eidam, General Manager of the Sweitzer Family Office. “The center core area will be ADA-compliant making the facility a ‘visitable’ design,” Eidam noted. “We hope to begin the renovations in the first quarter of 2024.”

Fortify Life was created to support individuals and families in accessing the support they need to accomplish their goals. When gaps in support are identified, the Fortify Life team innovates and seeks community collaboration in an effort to improve the chances of success. In addition to providing housing to those experiencing homelessness, Fortify Life leads the efforts of the DeKalb County eviction clinic, has created custom training opportunities, and offers an annual Friendsgiving event. Even though it is not about the number, the impact this team is having on the community is undeniable. Annually, the Fortify Life team supports nearly 1,250 individuals and families in DeKalb County experiencing a housing crisis.  

“During our research on eradicating poverty, we came across an organization in Austin, Texas that emphasizes, ‘Housing will never solve homelessness, but community will’” stated Fortify Life’s founder, Jason Sweitzer. “This resonated with us as we believe community engagement is a critical component to the success of those Fortify Life and Fortify Home serve.”

Though much of the renovation project will be performed by contractors and Fortify Life maintenance team members, there are several opportunities for the community to get involved in the project and at Fortify Home. “The individuals staying at Fortify Home are OUR DeKalb County neighbors and just like we support the neighbors near our own homes, the neighbors at Fortify Home need the same support,” said Figert. “From volunteering to re-paint a room, to donating food and personal hygiene items, or serving a community meal, there are endless volunteer opportunities available to support this work today and moving forward.”

To learn more about the programming at Fortify Home or the planned renovations visit www.fortifylife.org, e-mail engage@fortifylife.org, or call 260-226-8836.