winter shelter ends, 2008

03/15/2008: “The cold weather shelter programs at both homeless shelters ended yesterday…”

Every year, Greensboro Urban Ministry and Salvation Army open winter emergency overflow programs, in addition to their year-round shelter beds, to keep homeless people from freezing to death sleeping outside.  And every year, those winter shelter programs close as winter ends.  Salvation Army closes winter shelter on March 15th.  Greensboro Urban Ministry closes winter shelter when the dangerous temperatures end.  Every year, homeless people go back outside as the weather warms up.

03/15/2008: “Those 80 or more homeless people are now back on the street. Where are they sleeping?  Our NightWatch team found that the group of homeless people who met us in the parking lot of Grace Community Church had more than doubled from last week…. When we got to one of the big bridges downtown, we found that the number there had doubled, as well. Our friend JM, who has the spot nearest the path, announced that ‘the bridge is full’ … when we went to check the parking lot of Greensboro Urban Ministry before going home for the night, and we found at least a half dozen people sleeping there, some of them on the concrete right outside the doors of the shelter…”

That was a really difficult night for our outreach team. And unimaginably tougher for our friends on the street.  I feel like I’m reliving it as I re-read that post. There was a lot going on that night. It was complicated. It is this year, too.

Prior to the beginning of winter this year, GUM’s Mike Aiken brought together a group of homeless service providers, emergency management officials and homeless advocates to prepare for an expected increase in the number of homeless people who would need emergency winter shelter vs. the shortage of winter shelter capacity.  That was the beginning of the WE program — additional winter emergency shelters in five churches and a community center.

One of the many beautiful things that’s come of the WE program this year is that it’s increased the public’s awareness of homelessness as an issue and of the homeless as people in Greensboro.  WE has also helped created a space for homeless people to find their own voices and their own solutions.

Because of WE, there is much more awareness this year that winter shelter is ending.  The Salvation Army winter overflow and one of the WE shelters closed a couple of weeks ago.  The remaining WE shelters close tomorrow.  The group of men at the HIVE’s WE shelter have been busy developing relationships and finding permanent housing.  Liz Seymour helped created a non-profit, the Greensboro Cooperative Housing Association, to help pay deposits and sign leases.  (News & Record article, 03/26/2009)

Paul Gydos, a resident of the HIVE’s WE shelter and a homeless activist, created a Google group and a web site, Homeless and Friends United Piedmont, with a short-term mission of establishing an Ongoing Emergency Shelter Program.  Paul has drafted an action plan calling the community and congregations to become a fiscal sponsor, host emergency shelters, volunteer and donate.  (News & Record article, 03/20/2009)

There will be a lot more people sleeping outside this Friday night when the NightWatch truck comes around.  Winter is ending.  Homelessness isn’t.  It’s complicated.

Update, 12/21/2008, 10:20 p.m.:  One of the ladies we were most worried about did come inside.  She’s in her bed now, safe and warm.  Thank you, Jesus. 

Update, 05/31, 2011, 2:13pm: The lady we were so worried about in December 2008 is now clean and sober and happily living with family in another state (she’s a grandmom!) — giving all the glory to God. Amen. Thank you, LORD.

He accepted the plate with a thankful but weary smile and noted that no homeless person will ever starve to death in this town.  There’s always food available.  Somebody’s serving something seven days a week — and most days, three meals.  As he turned to go, he added, “But you can’t cover up with a chicken wing.”

On Monday, December 15th, the WE! program — winter emergency shelter at churches and the HIVE — will begin, offering shelter and community to dozens of homeless people in Greensboro throughout the winter months.  And who knows what else will come out of this new venture?  Perhaps WE! will birth relationships and opportunities that will last into the spring, summer and beyond.

There’s a WE! organizational committee meeting on Monday, 12/8/2008 at 10:00am in the conference room at Greensboro Urban Ministry.  There’s a training for volunteers on Tuesday, 12/9/2008 at 7:00pm at First Presbyterian Church, following the (free!) 6:00pm meal.  Enter the church from the N. Greene St. entrance.

Because you can’t cover up with a chicken wing…