'It was time' | Resource center for women in crisis closing its doors in Louisville | Local News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After years of working to help women get a fresh start in Louisville, a local nonprofit is closing its doors.

Amy Leenerts, the executive director of Free2Hope, created the nonprofit more than a decade ago, focusing on outreach for women in crisis. Then, about five years ago, she moved Free2Hope into a house on West Main Street in the Portland neighborhood, opening a drop-in center for women to get hot meals, clean clothes, and resources.

"I just wanted to be a person that was there for people that really needed help," Leenerts said. "... All of our women were victimized, some through trafficking, some through rapes and others through domestic violence."

Free2Hope's drop-in center is closing after several years in Louisville.

Leenerts said many of the women who stop by are homeless. Some come from nearby, while others travel to get to the center.

"... and they're usually living in all the abandoned houses around here, which is pretty scary to begin with," Leenerts said.

While she's worked to make positive changes, Leenerts said the journey has been overwhelming, both in good and bad ways.

"The women that can start believing in themselves more really is what I love to watch the change of," she said, noting positive outcomes from the resource center.

But there have also been challenges. WDRB has previously reported on the drop-in center being hit by dozens of bullets and donated supplies reportedly stolen from the porch. Leenerts said there's been a "marked difference" in the last year, citing concerns with drugs in the area.

"With drugs and all these other things around, it gets really difficult to help people," she said.

Now, Leenerts said it's time to close the doors.

"I've just done everything that you could do to try and make things any better," she said. "But I can't seem to do that anymore, and that's why I think it was time."

She said it's been difficult emotionally, as well.

"I used to make a brick for each one of my women that died, and it would be really pretty — had their picture on it, all kinds of different things," Leenerts said. "And it got to a point that I kept having to put bricks in that wall. And, at one point, it just became too much. We lost like seven women last year. And that was to fentanyl."

Leenerts said it's difficult getting close to people "and they just keep dying, and you're not able to stop it."

"I also began to get threats to my safety, and it just got to the point where I said 'I can't do it anymore.' I just can't. I can't watch another woman die and I'm not going to get beat up or whatever here. It's not going to happen."

Leenerts estimates around 1,000 women have sought help at the drop-in center at some point during the last five years. During that time, Free2Hope filled backpacks for weekend meals, created a garden with missing persons flyers to raise awareness and more.

Leenerts said she's not sure what's next but said the house on West Main Street will be sold.

"There's a lot of great people in this community," she said. "A lot of nice little families, and it's a shame that they have to live around all this as well. The kids know when they hear gunshots, go under the bed. That's not normal."

She said she can't say for sure if this is the end of Free2Hope, but it is the end of the drop-in center.

"I'm still trying to figure out what's next because I have no idea at this point," she said. "I just know that this isn't working anymore, and it wouldn't be fair to continue on."

Leenerts said there are resources downtown where women can get assistance but said transportation can sometimes be a barrier. She also said several nearby churches often provide help.

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