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Pocono News Section
New Homeless Shelter for Williamsport?
New Homeless Shelter for Williamsport? - Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 5:33PM EST
Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Tuesday, Dec 8, 2009 @ 05:33pm EST
Williamsport, Lycoming County-
Cold weather, including the chance of a snowstorm Tuesday night, is increasing the need for emergency shelters throughout the area.
That could mean a major transformation for one church in central Pennsylvania.
There are only a handful of shelters that cater to the homeless in Williamsport.
Rosann Pelleschi, of the Lycoming County United Way, noted, “To date, everything is full. And there’s a growing number of homeless.”
Most are transitional living facilities.
The American Rescue Workers men’s shelter is one of the few that deals specifically with emergency situations.
That’s why a group of social service agencies want to open a safe haven in the former Grace United Methodist Church on Campbell Street.
The idea recently got planning commission approval and will go before the zoning hearing board next week.
Pelleschi said, “Our goal for this project is to get people off the streets in a warm, safe environment.”
Williamsport Salvation Army Major Marie Harris explained, “We’re here to help those that are unable to help themselves and to give them a light that they can follow.”
Social workers say Williamsport has a hidden homeless population- often living in cars or abandoned homes- which is less apparent than those in larger cities.
Pelleschi explained, “People go from place to place, friend to friend, or they’re hiding out on the riverbank or in other places.”
At the American Rescue Workers men’s shelter, which is filled to capacity, the extra help would be welcomed.
Shelter Director Kevin Carroll said, “I think the safe haven shelter is going to be a great asset to the social service community, just to have that as either an overflow to this shelter, or just as another shelter that we can put people in.”
Harris added, “It takes a community to help a person. They don’t need to feel that they’re left outside by themselves.”
The agencies are emphasizing that this would only be a temporary shelter for individuals and families.
The average stay here would only be about two days, while people get the help they need to get back on their feet.
If the emergency shelter gets approval from the zoning hearing board on December 17th, officials say it could be up and running in about a month. | | |
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