Isaiah House 117 breaks ground for Putnam County location

An organization focused on providing support, comfort and safety to children going through a transition in living conditions, Isaiah 117 moved one step closer to putting a house in Putnam County recently. 

The organization had a ground breaking Sunday for a house in Putnam County and Putnam County Program Coordinator Rissa Shepherd could not be more excited. 

"It's such a relief and blessing to have achieved the milestone of breaking ground for the house. It has felt like a long time coming, but, in reality, we only began raising awareness a little over a year and a half ago. With that perspective, we have come a long way in a pretty short amount of time. It speaks to the community understanding the need for this house to serve its most vulnerable residents and their willingness to support it financially," Shepherd told The Putnam County Post. 

Isaiah 117 provides a home where children going through foster care or the Department of Child Services can have a safe, friendly and loving environment that features clean clothes, toys, blankets and more. The mission of the home is simple, it aims to reduce trauma for children awaiting placement, lightens the load for child welfare services and eases the transition for foster families. 

"This home will be used to comfort children when they are removed from a dangerous home situation by DCS. The need is great, and we will also be able to have a positive impact on DCS caseworkers by providing an office in the home for them to do their work, while trained volunteers care for the children. For foster families, we will have on hand everything they might need to be able to say yes to fostering. There will be car seats, pack and plays, formula, diapers, etc. This home will also be prepared to serve four of our neighboring counties: Parke, Clay, Owen and Morgan, until such a time as they have their own Isaiah 117 house. Our goal is to be a resource to as many people as possible," Shepherd said. 

Shepherd said the average time to get one of their homes built is nine months, and she is hopeful they can beat the average. 

"There are a lot of variables, and the biggest one being that nearly 100 percent of the labor on this house will be done on a volunteer basis. That being said, we will have to work around people's paying jobs at times, so it can have a slowing effect on construction," she said. 

Shepherd said there are plenty of ways for people to get involved even while the house is awaiting construction.

"We are always looking for funding, as we are completely dependent on the generosity of people and corporations to build and maintain this home. Isaiah 117 houses do not take any government grants or funds, so we are always happy to find those who want to contribute to the cause," Shepherd said. 

In addition, there are monthly connection meetings at Putnam County Hospital on the third Wednesday of each month from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. on the third floor classrooms one and two. 

"Everyone is welcome, and it's a great time to meet others and sign up to be on work teams/committees. When the house opens, we will need a minimum of 40 trauma informed care trained volunteers to help with children who have been removed from their homes, as well as other types of volunteer work such as lawn care, cleaning, freezer meals and much more," Shepherd said.