From Shelter to Stability
Summertime and the Living is Not So Easy For the Homelesss
September 2011
By Jennifer M. Drummond
It had been a very chilly November day, the kind requiring a heavy jacket and it was around dinner time. Carolyn, a key volunteer at a church in Midlothian, was busy directing her crew in food preparation, fixing cots with blankets, and with other important details, all in preparation for their guests for the evening. In this case they were homeless, adult males who would be getting a hot meal, a place to lay their head for the night and optional fellowship. Breakfast and a bag lunch would be provided before they were on their way around 6:30 AM the following day.
Carolyn and her group, a host congregation of the CARITAS Shelter Program, were more than ready. They were excited and eager to help make a difference in the lives of less fortunate individuals. The church had planned for this event months ago, partnering with another, larger church. The other church had the facilities to house more individuals - males, females or families with children. This is often what smaller congregations do when their own facility has limited space.
Although Carolyn believed that there would be a definite need to assist the homeless during the colder months of the year, she had not necessarily considered there would be an equally great need during the summer months as well. CARITAS Volunteer Development Manager, Sharon Drescher believes this may be the perception of many of the 185 congregations participating in the Shelter Program.
This past summer the CARITAS Shelter Program found itself having to combine groups because there were not enough congregations available during the months of July and August. “Attendance drops during the summer, and less people are around; however, there are homeless people year round and they need to get out of the heat. That is just as important as getting them out of the cold during the winter months,” Drescher explained.
Despite this misperception, Trinity Lutheran Church on Parham Road stepped in and was able to provide a week of shelter during the month of August. According to Drescher they graciously responded with very little notice. “We are booking now for next summer and we will work around vacations, or if there is a summer ministry,” she said. In consideration of their needs and problems, regardless of the temperature, being homeless is never easy living.
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