Today we are highlighting our Partner Program Homeless Shelter Services and Client Advocacy – A program though which our Agency Partner, The Winter Sanctuary Homeless Shelter’s advocates coordinate guests with community resources to further their goals of working toward securing safe, sustainable housing, finding meaningful employment, referring guest to community resources as needed, and meeting individuals in the off season as they present with needs. Advocate, Joe, provided us with a timely update to share the success of the season and how they have adapted to the current social restrictions and health concerns.
The Winter Sanctuary has shared the results of a challenging but successful shelter season. They provided 3,253 bed/nights for 107 different homeless guests at the shelter located on West Vine Street. The Winter Sanctuary’s mission is to provide seasonal, emergency shelter for the members of our community who experience homelessness and to connect them with the resources that empower them to be successful and self-sufficient.
Emergency shelter is needed in our community, but the Winter Sanctuary does its best to do more than just put a roof over a guest’s head. Each shelter guest met with advocates, Joe Springer and Ann Marie Wiley, at least two times a week. Together they developed goals and were connected to resources to help them successfully achieve those goals. Most guests set the goal of attaining safe affordable housing, but the shelter advocates also connected them to resources to address any underlying issues that led them to become homeless. Many guests were connected to local resources that address mental health, substance misuse, employment, disability, and transportation.
In March the shelter was challenged with the COVID-19 virus. The Winter Sanctuary met with the Knox County Health Department – Mount Vernon, Ohio Knox County Health Commissioner, Julie Miller, to discuss the safety of both guests and their 70+ volunteers. The setup of the facility does not allow the shelter to isolate infected guests or practice social distancing. The difficult decision was made to close the shelter on April 1st, a month earlier than originally planned.
With the early closer date of the shelter, a new goal was developed by both the staff and the Winter Sanctuary Board of Directors. The new goal was to ensure each and every guest would be safely sheltered at season’s end on April 1st. In the month of March, 10 guests moved into an apartment, 10 guests moved in with friends or family, and 1 guest moved into a sober living home. There were still 6 guests that had nowhere to go. With the support of Knox County Foundation, those 6 guests were moved to a hotel where they continue to work with the shelter advocates on their goals. The homeless shelter had a challenging season, but there was not a single guest that had to resort to living on the street or in the woods. The Winter Sanctuary expressed that they are incredibly thankful for the advocacy program that is supported by the United Way, our wonderful volunteers, and the entire community that has sacrificed to support guests during this difficult time.
