About
In the winter of 1981, a group of concerned Charleston citizens decided to open a shelter for the homeless population of the Kanawha Valley. This movement was started due to the fact that many individuals living outside were freezing to death. These citizens used any building they could find that would keep people warm and dry; for example the Holley Hotel and the old Kanawha Valley Hospital building. Finally in 1983, the Charleston Men’s Emergency Shelter moved into a fire station on Florida Street and sought to help any man in need of shelter. From this, they eventually grew and expanded the type of services needed by the men seeking services.
As a result of this effort, the Charleston Men’s Emergency Shelter was incorporated in 1983 and in March of 1989, the shelter relocated to its new location at 505 Broad Street. In September of 2000, the shelter was renamed the Roark-Sullivan Lifeway Center (RSLC) to honor Mayor Roark, Reverend Leon Sullivan and to emphasize the broadened mission of the Center.
The Roark-Sullivan Lifeway Center is an independent non-profit agency serving the Kanawha Valley that provides emergency, transitional and permanent housing along with a wide variety of supportive services for individuals 18 years and older who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of experiencing homelessness.
The overall goals of RSLC are to provide:
A supportive environment and comprehensive services so individuals can get back on their feet and support themselves.
To prevent them from becoming homeless again in the future.
The RSLC holds central to its existence the goal of providing quality services, developed with the hope of including each resident’s family and significant other in the process. We aim to support men and women to care for their children whenever possible.
It is our intent to maintain the rights of the individuals we serve
To treat all entering our programs and services with dignity and respect
To assist individual in making their own decisions – ensuing their right to self-determination
To help each individual regain his or her ability to live independently when possible
Focus on personal responsibility and accountability by empowering each person to set and achieve goals
We believe that each individual’s future can be positive and we commit ourselves to assisting in any way possible to support this being achieved.
Our Mission: “In an environment of dignity and mutual respect, to help individuals experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless, to become self-sufficient through:
- Housing: Providing a temporary shelter and access to affordable permanent housing Skills: Helping each resident develop the life and job skills needed to live,
- Work: Expecting each resident to perform meaningful work for the benefit of himself or herself and the community
- Prevention: Working to prevent homelessness in the Kanawha Valley.”
- We aim to support individuals to care for their children whenever possible. It is our intent to maintain the rights of those served, to treat all entering our programs and services with dignity and respect and to assist all individuals to make their own decisions- ensuring their right to self determine.
- We seek to maintain an environment that is free of violence and illegal conduct.
- We seek to help each individual regain his ability to live independently when possible and/ or to live as independently as appropriate.
- We focus on personal responsibility and accountability by empowering each individual to set and achieve his or her own goals.
- We believe that each individual’s future can be positive and we commit ourselves to assisting in any way possible to support this being achieved.
