shelter

I watched Monday night's public hearing on the IFC's proposed new shelter on Homestead Road with dismay. Every time the IFC identifies an affordable parcel of land appropriate for a new Homestart shelter, the neighbors object. Although the Town Council does a good job of responding to the concerns of neighborhoods, this time we have a pickle. The shelter has to move. It cannot stay downtown and achieve the type of service the town and the IFC want to provide to our homeless male population. To help promote a more positive dialogue, I'd like to propose that we stop talking about "the shelter" and begin discussing the various services currently offered by the IFC and the new proposed services.

The current shelter offers three primary services: overnight beds, job and life counseling, and meals. Those who wish to spend the night at the shelter must be clean and sober, and they have to be inside by 8:00 pm and gone by early morning. Counseling is obviously used by those who desire the service. Meals are available to men, women, and children, whether they stay in the shelter or not. Many of those who use the meal service are the underemployed. 

Feeling charitable this solstice? The Inter-Faith Council, which provides critical support to some of our most vulnerable neighbors, had to roll back their hours due to lack of funding earlier this year. Thanks to a challenge grant, they are now poised to bring back 24-hour service, but only if they raise another $6,000 by December 31st.

You can donate to IFC online through Network for Good. Put "24/7 campaign" in the Designation field. If you care to mention in the Dedication field that you came from OrangePolitics, that would be a great way to let the IFC know how much we appreciate their work!

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