Griffin Family donates $100,000 to Hope Campus project

The Griffin Family of Fort Smith have donated $100,000 to the Old Fort Homeless Coalition to be used for the Riverview Hope Campus.

The effort behind the campus is to bring together the various agencies in the city that  provide services to the city’s homeless population.

“We’ve been blessed as a family to be part of Fort Smith’s growth and progress for many years. Fort Smith’s future depends not only on continued business development, but also providing the highest level of care for all its residents,” Rick Griffin, Griffin Properties of Fort Smith, said in a statement. “The proposed Riverview Campus is an extremely worthwhile endeavor. It’s our hope that this gift can be a catalyst for others in Fort Smith to build upon.”

The planned Riverview Hope Campus is expected to provide access to counseling, case management, medical and mental health services, basic education/GED classes, job training and placement services. Food, shelter, a worship center, bathrooms, showers, barbershop, laundry, storage and kennels will also be available.

“Research of ‘best practices’ across the United States convinced us that a comprehensive Social Services Campus model was preferred because it would change lives for the better and lead to self-sufficiency,” said Ken Pyle, Executive Director of the Fort Smith Housing Authority and President of the Old Fort Homeless Coalition. “This generous gift propels us in the right direction and solidifies the community’s desire to make this a reality. Our sincere thanks to the Griffin Family.”