Rev. Andy's Blog

Friday, March 14, 2008

The Heartache of Closing Down Winter Shelters

I mentioned, in my last blog, the good news that we found housing for one 87 year old mom who celebrated her birthday at the Burbank Winter Shelter. She had been residing at the Winter Shelter because she had come from Asia, found her daughter struggling in homelessness, and assumed homelessness with her mentally distressed homeless daughter. I also shared the celebratory news of one of our Winter Shelter’s guests who had just found a job in Texas and soon relocated to his new home and exciting position building helicopters.

Today I need to share the heartbreaking news that comes when our time to borrow the Armories in Burbank, West LA, and Culver City has run out, funding ends, and now we need to close the shelters until next December. This leaves many precious souls, who have become accustomed and much more comfortable being in out of the weather for these last few months, facing a future with no where to turn.

We are scrambling to connect these folks with vouchers to housing, referrals to other agencies, and possibly entry into our own Union Rescue Mission, but we will not be able to cover all of the bases nor will we effectively place everyone in housing. Some of these most vulnerable people in our County will return to a life of barely surviving on the streets.

We thank God that two students from UCLA and the movers and shakers in Burbank are working together with the faith community there to find a year round alternative to homelessness in the future, and we are thankful that at our own Union Rescue Mission we are going to leave our winter shelter cots up even as the funding dries up. Yet, personally, it is tough on my heart to think of anyone heading out the door this Sunday morning, March 16th, with no hope of housing in the near future.

Please pray for these dear people this weekend. Pray for a miracle to happen in their lives to keep them under a roof. If you can think of an alternative or have means to create one, please let us know as soon as possible. At minimum, show some kindness to these folks if you see them out on the streets of your city.

Thanks for all of your support. -Rev. Andy B.

Do you have an idea to share about how to solve this tough situation?

What can we do as a society to not leave one human being on the streets?

What is your city doing about the overwhelming numbers of people facing homelessness?

Please donate to continue to serve the 198 folks on cots at the Mission from ending up on the streets.