Reverend Alex Richard says he’s seen an increase in the number of homeless women in Opelousas; therefore, he wants to open up a shelter.

“It’s important to get these ladies of the streets in order to help them get back on their feet. To help them to get their hope back, to get their joy back,” said Richard.

He and his ministry are in need of a building to make this possible, and are asking anyone who is willing to help, to lend a hand.

“Anybody who has a building they want to donate, if they live in Lafayette but they have property here, we’d be glad to accept it,” said Ron Ceasar, who works with Richard’s ministry.

While they both are aware of and thankful for the resources already in place to help women in need, they say there’s still work to be done.

“We plan to have a women’s shelter and want to work with Second Harvest Bank to have a small feeding program,” explained Ceasar, “Because Holy Ghost has [a feeding program] three days a week, so we would take the other two. We’re trying to bridge the gap in the community.”

Richard adds that a reason why he’s so passionate to provide help is because he was once homeless, so he knows how difficult it can be, “I did experience it. I know where it’s at. And this is my job as a minister to help them.”

The minister says that while he knows homelessness is a problem for both men and women, he believes women are more vulnerablein that situation.