Tim Hershey stands in front of sign in front of halfway house he operates. Photo by Mel Toadvine

In these difficult economic times for many, the man who operates a half-way house in Lehigh says it is becoming more difficult to keep up with the expenses and has had to shut down one side of a duplex which was used also to house homeless people and those who have lost their homes and have no place to go and those who have lost jobs and can’t pay rent anymore.

Tim Hershey who says he won’t give up though is cutting expenses himself by moving into the house. He picks up the expenses to run the house from his own pockets. He also works in the credit/debit card industry locally.

The group house, he says, is operated by The Thureos Group Inc., and Hershey is its chief executive officer. The house is located at 1247 Bacon Ave., in a housing community on the south side of SR80, not far from Eisenhower Blvd. It’s about an eight to 10-minute ride from the Homestead Rd. downtown area of Lehigh.

Hershey also worked for the Our Daily Bread food kitchen in Lehigh a few years back. The food kitchen is being closed, but the churches sponsoring it, including the Christ United Methodist Church, is handing out food to those who can’t afford to buy food.

“I’d like to find a place in Lehigh where we could reopen a food kitchen because there are still a lot of people who may not have the facilities to prepare food if they are homeless or their electricity has been turned off. While the churches in question are doing a fine job, I think we still need a food kitchen, called soup kitchens in some areas, to be available.

“We had some large groups of people when I was at the food kitchen on some days and in the summer, the numbers were higher because oftentimes people brought their children,” he said.

But the church in a statement a few weeks back said the number of people who came to the food kitchen at the community hall of the church at noon time had dwindled and it was thought best to become a food pantry instead. Besides, it was becoming more difficult to gain financial support in order to hire someone to run the food kitchen and cook the food, which was a paid position.

“We did a good job. The church did a good job and I hate to see it close, but it is probably all about economics, too, just like what we’re going through in trying to pay the bills to keep this halfway house open,” Hershey said.

So far this year, Hershey said he has had to pay more than $2,000 out of his own pocket from his income to keep the halfway house open. It has become more difficult to get donations from the public because of the current downturn in the economy. Part of that is due to high unemployment figures in Lehigh and also that it has become tight for almost everyone to pay their own expenses.

Hershey said those who come to the halfway house are referred to him by his church and from others like Faith Lutheran Church in Lehigh. He is a member of Beautiful Savior Church, he said, but the halfway house is not supported by the church.

“People have come to us when they get out of jail, from off the streets where they have lived because they can’t pay a rent payment because they have lost their jobs, and from referrals from churches and other organizations, Hershey said.

The left side of the duplex is what Hershey is using now as the halfway house. He has been forced to turn off the electricity on the other side of the duplex because of costs. The house is owned by an out-of-town gentleman who helps to provide the duplex, as long as it is used as a halfway house, Hershey said.

As of this week, the halfway house is empty because the most recent residents have found jobs and are able to leave and support themselves.

“The halfway house was never met to become a full-time residence,” Hershey said. “We provide spiritual counseling to the person and we gave them a bed and helped them find a job.”

Hershey said he uses all his spare time searching the Internet and making calls to find jobs for those who come to the house. He also said the person may remain at the house for a certain amount of time once employed, but is expected then to help pay a share of the expenses.

“One thing certain though is that they must find a job and get themselves back into society and learn to live within their incomes. They need to find places where they can rent and be able to get help by attending local churches that give away food,” he said.

Hershey uses an old bus to provide transportation to those who come to the house. They need rides to job sites, to doctors, etc., “he said. “But the gas is expensive in the old bus and it takes money to keep it up, which Hersey says he is lucky enough that he can do such things as maintaining the bus.

One thing Hershey said is needed is someone who knows how to write grants that may help support the halfway house. He said the halfway house has been running on a shoestring for the last couple of years.

It is tidy and clean inside and some share bedrooms if the rooms are large enough, he said. While at the halfway house, they are expected to keep it clean and to do their share of the work of maintaining it.

“We do emphasize the spiritual aspect when people come to spend time here. That is very important to get people involved back in a church or if they have never attended church, to become involved in one,” Hershey said. No drugs or alcoholic drinks are allowed at the halfway house.

‘We feed the soul and the body,” Hershey said.

He believes the future for the area is still bleak and doesn’t think things are going to improve economically anytime soon, especially with Lee County having one of the highest jobless rates in the nation. He is helped by his fianc Nicole Wellman who encourages him to continue to keep the halfway house open.

“We both believe it is our responsibility to provide the Gospel and God will do the rest. The halfway house is independently run and does not take any government funding.

Hershey can b e located on his cell phone at 440-4426. He says those who need a place to stay should call him and those who may be able to help financially are also encouraged to call him.

“We want to keep this place open for as long as we can to help people in this area. I don’t think there is another halfway house in the Lehigh area. And I know that a lot of people who need a temporary place like this to stay at are not aware of it because we have not sought publicity, but when we go out onto the streets, we find people who need a place to stay and that is when we tell them we can help,” he said.