MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown Community Resources Inc. (MCRI), the owner and site manager at Hazel’s House of Hope on Scott Avenue, has received $10,000 in Neighborhood Investment Program (NIP) tax credits.
MCRI can give the vouchers to donors who make a minimum contribution of $500. The donor will receive a voucher for half of the value of the donation. The organization is assessed a three percent fee on the donation to cover the administrative costs of the NIP.
Fundraising Counsel Terri Cutright said a business or individual making a $1,000 donation would qualify for a $500 state tax voucher.
“Somebody could take that voucher, whether it’s corporate or individual, and write on the bottom line where it says what you owe the state of West Virginia, and you would take off that $500,” Cutright said.
Hazel’s House of Hope is home to feeding programs operated by the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties, the Salvation Army, and the emergency triage shelter operated by Catholic Charities-West Virginia. Addiction triage center, Lauren’s Wish, and Well Spring Family Services also have space in the facility.
“We have several grant requests out, and we’re looking to have wraparound services, so we could provide space for the DMV to provide I.D. cards for people that need that,” Cutright said. ”
Hazel’s House of Hope was established in the former Ramada Inn to address three major Monongalia County issues: homelessness, food insecurity, addiction, and substance use disorder. With community support, MCRI is able to provide and maintain a facility for the organizations addressing those issues at a reasonable cost.
“Continue to offer very affordable rent to the non-profits, maintain the building, insurance, fire service fee—all of the expenses of owning a building and maintaining nine acres of property,” Cutright said.
Multiple organizations providing unique services from the same location provides many efficiencies for the non-profits while streamlining delivery for the recipients. Cutright said the organizations can communicate better and provide referrals in many cases.
“When somebody is dealing with a client that they recognize could use the services of an organization that is upstairs or downstairs by being housed in the same location, there is tremendous collaboration and communication,” Cutright said.