Kwanzaa Family Inn Women's Shelter

04/17/2026

Ladies, please bear this in mind

“If everyone makes small changes, it adds up quickly and helps us avoid more severe restrictions later."

04/14/2026

Our Health and Human Services Building is closed due to a power outage. Offices closed include Caldwell County Department of Social Services, Caldwell County Health Department, Planning Department, Building Inspections, Caldwell County PORT - Formerly Restart.

04/10/2026

This is a good point for all our residents and the rest of us too! 

Read full article

04/01/2026

Please be VERY careful with cigarette butts, etc. About 4 years ago, we had a small grounds fire at the shelter which the fire department put out. It was very scary!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CXLEPHYkZ/

Due to increased wildfire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28 until further notice.

Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

The burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within those 100 feet.

Read news release: https://www.ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2026/03/28/statewide-burn-ban-issued-north-carolina-due-hazardous-forest-fire-conditions

03/21/2026

From FB group DULATOWN with thanks! "This picture was taken at the old Dulatown Presbyterian Church.... Rev. E.B. Freeman [founder of Kwanzaa Family Inn], Rev. F.D. Battle, Cousin Vernon Phillips and Cousin Clarence (Pop) Dula. Not sure of the year."

Rest in peace, Rev. Freeman. We miss you so much still! ❤️

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine's Day from Kwanzaa Family Inn women's shelter!

02/07/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C8RdJz6GU/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In a city where rising housing costs have pushed many people onto the streets, one community in Austin, Texas is proving that homelessness can be answered with creativity and compassion. Community First! Village was created to offer more than temporary shelter. It was designed as a permanent, supportive neighborhood for men and women who have lived for years without stable housing. Spread across more than fifty acres on the east side of Austin, the village provides safe, affordable homes along with a network of services meant to restore dignity and independence. Hundreds of residents now live there, each with their own small house and a chance to rebuild a life that once seemed out of reach.

Unlike traditional shelters, the village operates as a real community rather than an institution. The homes are simple but comfortable, equipped with basic living spaces and front porches that encourage neighbors to connect. Shared kitchens, gardens, laundry areas, and gathering spaces are intentionally placed throughout the grounds so that residents interact and form relationships. Medical care, mental health support, job training, and social services are available on site, helping people address the challenges that often accompany long-term homelessness. Many residents also find employment within the community itself, learning new skills and earning income in a stable environment.

Community First! Village continues to grow and evolve as new phases of construction are completed. Innovative building methods, including the use of 3D-printed houses, have been tested there as affordable housing solutions. The project has drawn national attention because it treats homelessness not simply as a housing shortage but as a human crisis that requires belonging and purpose. By combining safe homes with meaningful work, friendship, and consistent support, the village has become a model for cities across the country. Its success shows that when communities choose to invest in people rather than ignore them, real and lasting change is possible.

01/24/2026

With an accumulation of ice predicted for Saturday and Sunday and lows in the single digits on Monday, now is the time to protect your pipes from freezing.

Here are a few tips:

1. Disconnect and drain outdoor faucets
Remove all garden hoses
Shut off indoor valves supplying outdoor spigots
Open the outdoor faucet to drain remaining water
Cover the spigot with an insulated cover

2. Seal out cold air
Plastic-wrap drafty windows
Seal gaps where cold air enters basements or crawl spaces
Make sure crawl space panels are closed and intact

3. Insulate exposed pipes
Pipes in cold or drafty areas should be wrapped with insulation such as:
Foam pipe sleeves
Fiberglass insulation
Heat tape (especially for mobile homes or exposed lines)

4. During extreme cold, adjust how you heat your home
Never set your thermostat lower than 55–60 degrees
Open interior doors and cabinets underneath sinks so warm air can circulate
Don’t close off rooms, even if you don’t use them

5. Let water stream, not just "drip"

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from Kwanzaa Family Inn!!!

We still need monetary dinations, toiletries, toilet paper (Angel Soft or Scott only per our plumber), paper towels, Dawn (dish detergent) and canned food (soups, veggies and meat) for the coming year. Thank you!

12/24/2025

Come celebrate Kwanzaa with us at the Queen City Kwanzaa Day Party - a fun-filled event full of music, dancing, and cultural festivities!