HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With winter approaching and shelter space already stretched thin, Foundation of Life Ministries is preparing to launch an overflow shelter designed to keep Hutchinson’s unhoused families safe during the coldest months.
The initiative, known as The Refuge Project, will operate from Dec. 1 through March 31 at the church’s facility at 114 E. Eighth Ave. It is intended to supplement services already provided by New Beginnings’ NOEL Lodge, the city’s primary overnight shelter.
NOEL Lodge typically houses 25 people but can expand to 50 by opening additional space. Even then, demand continues to outpace capacity.
“Every year when winter comes, NOEL Lodge maxes out,” said Pastor J.K. Vann, who leads Foundation of Life Ministries. “There are always more people seeking shelter than available beds. We realized we only used our fellowship hall once a week in winter, so we asked what it would look like to create a secondary shelter.”
The Refuge Project will provide overnight space for up to 40 people, including parents with children — a significant distinction from the Lodge, which primarily houses individuals. The shelter will open nightly at 5 p.m., offer a 7 p.m. meal, and lock doors at 8 p.m. Lights out will be around 9 p.m.
Beyond providing a warm place to sleep, organizers plan to create a home-like environment with evening activities, life-skills classes, therapy sessions, and discipleship opportunities. Several community groups will rotate through to offer arts, crafts, and other support.
“We’re trying to create an environment that doesn’t feel like you’re in a shelter, but like you’re hanging out with family,” Vann said. “Everything we do as a ministry centers around family.”
A “store” inside the building will supply clothing, shoes, toiletries, books, backpacks, and other essentials at no cost to guests.
The Refuge Project is being supported by New Beginnings and the Salvation Army, which will receive guests each morning after the shelter closes at 8 a.m. The Hutchinson Community Foundation is acting as the project’s fiscal sponsor.
While donations have already poured in, Vann said the greatest remaining need is volunteers.
“Whatever your capacity is, we’ll work with that,” he said. “We have people who can come for a few hours and some who will stay overnight. We just need helping hands.”
Volunteers will receive training before the shelter opens. No prior experience is required.
Vann said the project also hopes to contribute to broader housing discussions in Reno County by gathering data on what kinds of shelter and housing options are most needed.
“Not every unit needs to be a single-family house,” he said. “We need a diversity of housing types to serve different situations. Housing insecurity is not the same as criminal behavior — it’s a social and economic condition. We need to rethink how we look at homelessness.”
The project will serve only during winter, but Vann emphasized that homelessness is a year-round challenge requiring long-term solutions beyond seasonal sheltering.
For Vann, the work aligns closely with the church’s mission.
“We believe we’re called to love our neighbors, and love is an action word,” he said. “We want people to leave knowing someone is in their corner, cheering for them.”
For more information, volunteer opportunities, or donations, Foundation of Life Ministries can be reached at [email protected]
or on social media. The church also accepts drop-off donations at its campus at 114 E. 8th Ave., across from the Salvation Army.
“We’re just asking people to do what we were taught in kindergarten,” Vann said. “Be kind.”