Interfaith Shelter Network
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The year 2018 is our 31st season of hosting Interfaith Shelter Network guests at St. James, January 27 through February 10.
The collaborative program serves homeless men, women, and children in San Diego who receive shelter and other services for a two week period. Each guest is pre-screened and receives additional support as they endeavor to get their lives on more solid footing. What Guests Do Here Our guests will arrive Saturday, January 27, to officially launch the start of the two week period here. The guests will stay in the Parish Hall and will be here from 5:00 pm to 7:00 am the following morning, each day during their two-week stay. They will sleep and eat breakfast and dinner here. As each guest leaves during the day for work, job hunting, going to school or Sunday worship services, we send them off with a healthy sack lunch. Our guests will have access to showers and laundry facilities, under our supervision, at our neighbor church, La Jolla Presbyterian. How This is Made Possible Continuance of the Interfaith Shelter Network tradition at St. James is achieved through the contributions of our members who generously donate their time, talent and treasure. The volunteer recruitment for this year has begun! Sign-up sheets can be found at coffee hour, after each worship service. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities, but the most critical needs are:
For questions please contact Mike Wood at my95flstf@aol.com, or 858-270-0509 or Laura Lee Skillman at laura-lee.skillman@gmail.com, or 925-683-1045. |
Eddie Louise Horace and her two grandchildren, who are homeless, get to sleep on beds instead of inside Horace’s car through a winter rotational shelter program, run by the Interfaith Shelter Network and the Community Resource Center, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Del Mar. (Hayne Palmour IV) San Diego Union Tribune
Background on the Interfaith Shelter Network of San Diego
The Rotational Shelter Program is a seasonal emergency shelter program that takes in men, women and families. The Network involves over 120 congregations of all denominations, countywide. About 70 of the congregations host the program in their facilities for two weeks a year and the remainder serve in a valuable support role, providing volunteers for meals, overnight hosting, transportation and donations. Participants are sheltered, where there are no shelters, and receive the understanding and support of congregations when previously all they knew was fear and uncertainty. They are admitted to the program only after being screened by an area social service agency to assure there will be no active drug, alcohol or mental health problems. With the current Hepatitis A epidemic, the guests are also required to be vaccinated for HepA . Our volunteers are also encouraged to receive the Hepatitis A vaccine . (Please consider and consult with your doctor). Additionally, the participants are willing to work closely with the referring social service agency to resolve the problems leading to their homelessness. This is a practical, manageable way to serve for both host and support congregations. Generally, 12 guests at a time stay in the congregation facilities. At the end of two weeks, the whole operation - cots and guests - rotate to another area congregation. Guests can stay up to eight weeks in the Network. The average stay is just under six (6) weeks until the individual/family moves toward independence. |
