The Peak of Hope Homeless Shelter, located at 107 South Madriver Street in Bellefontaine, has temporarily stopped accepting women and families after safety concerns prompted the evacuation of one of its shelters earlier this month.
In a social media post published June 5, Executive Director Sarah Lewis announced that an adjacent abandoned building had deteriorated to the point that its chimney was resting against the shelter building.
Lewis said the situation posed a serious risk to guests and staff.
“Out of an abundance of caution and for the safety of our shelter guests, we had to evacuate our women’s shelter and can no longer accept families or single women at this time,” Lewis said in the statement.
The neighboring structure, which has been vacant for some time, has fallen into disrepair.
If the chimney collapses, it could cause significant damage to the shelter and potentially injure those inside.
“Should this chimney fall, it will cause irreparable harm,” Lewis wrote. “We, in good conscience, could no longer subject unhoused women and families to this potential danger.”
Lewis thanked several local officials and organizations for their assistance in addressing the issue, including the City of Bellefontaine’s code enforcement department, which she said worked aggressively to find a solution.
Lewis credited TCN’s Soteria House for helping relocate current guests so they could remain in the community and continue working toward self-sufficiency.
She also thanked Karen Beasley of Beasley Architecture & Design for quickly assessing the chimney and validating the shelter’s concerns.
However, Lewis says additional challenges have emerged since the original announcement.
“Issues with the shelter have evolved,” Lewis said. “Specifically, the shelter was found to have friable asbestos, meaning the siding would need to be removed in order for us to lawfully occupy the space. This creates two significant barriers for us to move forward with housing women and families,” she said.
The impact is already being felt by local residents seeking emergency housing assistance.
“Thus far, I’ve rejected three families and nine single women — all Logan County residents,” Lewis said. “I’m meeting with people face-to-face, in places not meant for human habitation, and telling them I don’t have alternatives for them.”
At this time, Peak of Hope does not know when services for single women and families will resume.
The shelter had already housed more than five families, including 10 children and nine single women, in 2026 before the closure.
This is a developing story.
