about us

Read the 2007 End of Year Report

history of hospitality house

The problem of homelessness gained local recognition 30 years ago as downtown merchants noted individuals sleeping in nearby woods and loitering about during business hours. In 1981 the Boone Coalition of Churches, which consisted of six in-town churches and their pastors met and identified the need for a true shelter. After a period of temporary shelter in churches, a more permanent solution, Hospitality House of the Boone Area, Inc. opened to shelter the homeless in early 1985.

The original Hospitality House Shelter was built in 1917, and given as a gift from an anonymous doner in 1984. Located at 302 West King Street in downtown Boone, this facility currently houses Hospitality House's main offices, the community soup kitchen, and emergency shelter (with 17 beds and 3 overflow beds). Hospitality House also owns two downtown houses built in the 1950s which serve as Transitional Housing Program shelters with 18 beds combined. In 2003 Hospitality House built Rock Haven, a Permanent Supportive Housing Program facility at 181 Greenbriar Road with eight efficiency apartments.

shelter staff
Paid Staff

Contract Staff

Volunteer Staff

• Tina Groover WeCAN Service Coordinator
• Marian Peters
Physician Assistant
• Marjory Holder Therapist

Hospitality House Board of Directors

• Brenda Lyerly, Chair
• Dick James, Vice-Chair
• Clayton Cooke, Treasurer
• Alice Salthouse, Secretary
• Denise Foutz
• Rob Angle
• Lefty Childress
• Bob Darst
• Kay Dixon
• David Patrick Moses
• Bob Moore
• Tom Redmond
• Ann Spinetto
• Ben Strickland
• Kent Tarbutton
• Wes Weaver
• Larry Woodrow