Our House

Two years ago, the Our House homeless program had four buildings on its campus, part of the old VA Hospital in east Little Rock. But only one of those buildings, the shelter that had doubled the organization’s capacity five years ago, was in anything like good repair.
The other three were dilapidated, according to Executive Director Georgia Mjartan, and had not been significantly remodeled since they had been built for the VA.
Today, two of the remaining three have been gutted and refitted for Our House’s family housing program, where families with children (and even some single men) can come and stay long enough to rebuild their lives — six months to two years.
The family housing buildings have a total of 13 units, and some of them can house up to six family members per unit. The residents of those units are responsible for their own space and their own meals, and they can stay there for up to two years while getting back on their feet.
“It’s a move up out of the shelter,” Mjartan said. “It’s beautiful and functional and a safe home for them. It’s a place they can call their own.”
When an official count was made late last month, the Our House shelter had 90 people sleeping in 80 beds. That included 22 children. “We are still bursting at the seams in our shelter because the need is so great, and the need is for families with children,” Mjartan said.
The organization has revenue of less than $2 million a year but employs almost 40 thanks to the federal Americorps and Vista programs. Ten members of the Our House staff have bachelor’s or master’s degrees, “and yet they are choosing to serve here because they believe in our mission,” Mjartan said.
Next up: Renovation of the fourth building for Our House’s adult education and work force training programs and for its licensed day care center.
“In the summer there are over 100 people from zero to 70 in age, and all of them are here for the same reason: to get an education and better themselves and to get prepared to be successful.”

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