Fairhaven Homeless Shelter

Pros

• The staff and Mr. Billy are described as feeling like family and providing a welcoming, supportive environment.
• The center is seen as helping people through difficult times and giving them a fresh start.
• The program is described as wonderful and deserving of full support.
• The staff are praised for being very helpful and caring, and the facility is considered resourceful.
• The meals are consistently good, and basic services like showers, laundry, and clothing are available.
• The shelter is viewed as a place that offers housing resources and practical assistance for rebuilding lives.
• The center is credited with helping guests get back on their feet after setbacks.
• The staff are noted for making a positive, life-changing impact for those they serve, including veterans.

Cons

• The shelter is run by people described as devils using the non-profit label to enable corruption.
• Arthur is labeled as the Elder Demon and Billy as the brains behind the con.
• The facility is said to lack sufficient funding, with outdoor showers and limited beds.
• The male staff are accused of treating the homeless harshly and assuming they are all on drugs.
• One reviewer says the staff don't search for weapons and only care about rules when it suits them, while others report they are disrespectful.
• A veteran reviewer claims they were kicked out for speaking their mind and were called a bully.
• The organization is described as racist by at least one reviewer and accused of discriminatory conduct.
• It is described as a money-maker with bad food.
• Donated goods are alleged to be mismanaged or not distributed, with reports of expired items and brand-new clothes going unused.

Review

The Renewal Center in Monroe emerges in these accounts as a shelter and resource hub that many people lean on during difficult times. For some, it is described as a lifeline that has helped them regain footing after crises, offering stability, daily structure, and a sense of community. Several reviewers speak of staying there for extended periods, even up to three months, and forming bonds with the staff that feel almost like family. The center is repeatedly framed as a place where people can access essential services, find direction, and begin a fresh chapter in their lives, especially when dealing with losses, divorces, or the transition away from addictive lifestyles. The emphasis on spiritual support - daily devotions and a culture of care - appears as a key ingredient, alongside practical help such as job search assistance and guidance on housing.

A common thread in many positive reviews is the combination of care and opportunity. People recount staff members who go beyond the call of duty to support personal growth and practical recovery. Figures such as Billy, Ms. Sharon, and Chris are remembered for their roles in creating a supportive, disciplined, and hopeful environment. The testimonials describe a place where "you get out of it what you put into it," where staff can be strict yet fair, and where volunteers and resources converge to help guests start anew. For veterans in particular, the center is praised for recognizing service and offering targeted encouragement, making it possible to reconnect with employment opportunities, clothes, and a community that understands hardship. The meals, showers, laundry access, and the availability of clothing and other essentials are highlighted as tangible benefits that help people regain stability and dignity.

Many reviews celebrate the practical, day-to-day offerings that enable residents to rebuild their lives. Three meals a day, access to showers and laundry, and opportunities to obtain clothing are repeatedly cited as the backbone of the center's value. The presence of volunteers and the sense that the center is more than a soup kitchen - an organization that guides people toward housing options, job prospects, and a better daily routine - are repeatedly noted. The sentiment is that these resources, together with a structured environment and occasional religious or inspirational programming, help individuals move forward even when bigger systemic issues - like funding gaps or facility modernization - present ongoing challenges.

Alongside the praise, there is a substantial and vivid critique from other reviewers. Some describe their experience as negative or even traumatic, with feelings of neglect or disrespect from staff. One reviewer reports feeling zero help after leaving the area and facing isolation after a violent relationship. Another describes the center as a place run by "devils" and accuses certain leaders of corruption, insinuating that donations are mishandled and that there is favoritism or abuse of power. There are strongly worded claims about staff members being rude or abusive, about harassment, and about a culture that sometimes seems to prioritize rules over people. Allegations of drugs being present, insufficient safety measures, and even manipulation of vulnerable people are among the harsh criticisms voiced by some who felt they were mistreated or ignored. A particularly bitter account describes a lack of privacy and inadequate facilities, including outdoor showers, limited beds, and a system that seemed to hinder rather than help those trying to rebuild their lives.

Other reviewers point to structural and resource-related issues that complicate the center's mission. They call for modernization, better funding, and improved management to address a growing homeless population that the current facilities cannot fully accommodate. Complaints include not enough beds, showers or bathrooms, and the need to transport residents to additional sites for sleeping arrangements. Some describe an atmosphere where safety or equity concerns persist - claims that certain individuals are given preferential treatment, or that staff harshness toward the homeless undermines the sense of safety and dignity that the center is supposed to provide. There are even accusations that donated goods are not distributed as they should be, and that some items are mismanaged or unavailable to those who need them most.

Yet amid these criticisms, other voices emphasize the center's humanity and potential for transformation. Several reviews insist that a person's outcome hinges on their own effort and engagement with the program, while acknowledging that the staff's support can be meaningful and life-changing. For many, the center remains a place where cooperation, respect, and kindness exist side by side with practical constraints and imperfect systems. The recurring message is that the Renewal Center plays a vital role in the local social safety net by offering meals, shelter components, clothing, and a platform for rebuilding lives; it is simply not without legitimate concerns that range from funding and facility conditions to management style and the handling of sensitive situations.

Taken together, the collection of reviews presents a complex portrait. The Renewal Center is celebrated by many for providing essential sustenance, structure, spiritual support, and a pathway toward employment and housing. It is remembered fondly as a place of warmth, guidance, and new beginnings, where some individuals credit staff with saving their lives or helping them regain footing after serious hardship. At the same time, the center faces pointed criticisms about its governance, facilities, safety, and consistency in treatment. Several reviewers call for more funding, modernization, and accountability to ensure that all guests are treated with dignity and given equal access to resources. The overall impression is that the center is a crucial, if imperfect, pillar of support for Monroe's vulnerable population - valued for what it provides and precisely the kind of place that could improve with stronger resources, clearer policies, and continued dedication from staff and volunteers.

Restaurants

• Applebee's (0.7 miles)
• Olive Garden (0.7 miles)
• McAlister's Deli (1 miles)
• Captain D's (1.6 miles)
• Church's Chicken (1.6 miles)
• Catahoula's (2.9 miles)
• Himalayan Cafe (2.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Mel's Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• Grifols (2.9 miles)
• Brookshire's (2.9 miles)
• Super 1 Foods (3.4 miles)
• Super 1 Pharmacy & Optical Store (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Zion Spring Baptist Church (2.4 miles)
• St Matthews Church of Christ Holiness (2.9 miles)
• Christian Community Ministries (3.6 miles)
• Progressive Baptist Church (3.7 miles)
• Living Water Ministries International (4 miles)
• Forsythe Avenue Christ of Christ (4.6 miles)
• Bethel Pentecostal Church (5.2 miles)

Parks

• Bernstein Park (2.6 miles)

Physicians

• LA Pain Care (3.3 miles)
• The Eye Clinic of Monroe (3.5 miles)
• Radiology Associates (3.5 miles)
• James Arthur Altick (3.5 miles)
• Enterprise Associates Of Ne La - Wilson T Barham MD (3.6 miles)
• Orthopaedic Center and Sports Medicine (3.6 miles)
• Orthopaedic Center of Monroe (3.6 miles)

Hospitals

• St Francis Mdeical Center (3.4 miles)
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Louisiana (3.4 miles)
• St Francis Specialty Hospital (3.5 miles)
• Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center At Monroe (3.8 miles)
• Ouachita Community Hospital (5.5 miles)

Cafes

• CC's Coffee House (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)

Transportation

• Troop 'F' Heliport (4.5 miles)