Churches Poised to Take in Homeless Again This Winter

There's a consensus that the program went well last year, with dozens of homeless people served who could not find room at secular shelters in the city.

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By Bill McAllister
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Story Created: Oct 11, 2011 at 5:49 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Oct 11, 2011 at 7:31 PM AKDT

As fall takes hold, the temperature has been dipping below freezing -- and that triggers additional help for homeless people in need of shelter.

A program begun last year to allow churches to provide shelter apparently will have more participants this winter.

There's a consensus that the program went well last year, with dozens of homeless people served who could not find room at secular shelters in the city.

Now with new applications being processed, the services are likely to expand.

Last winter, Anchorage City Church and ChangePoint opened their doors to the homeless, thanks to a new ordinance that waived restrictions under the city's land use code.

"I know that it impacted people's lives. I hear stories later on about how people were able to go somewhere when they really needed help," said Pastor Richard Irwin of Anchorage City Church.

Mayor Dan Sullivan and the Anchorage Assembly changed the law in order to meet a growing need for winter shelter.

"One of the things we've tried to do over the last year and a half to two years is to work more closely with the faith-based community because there's a huge untapped reservoir of volunteers who are committed to helping others within the faith-based community," said Darrel Hess, the city’s homeless coordinator.

Now churches that have adequate insurance, the blessing of the fire marshal and an actual plan for providing services to the homeless can provide beds when the mercury hits freezing.

Irwin said: "Housing the homeless is just one of those ways in which we get to be the expression of God's love in a tangible way of touching people. So when they come to stay at our facility, for example, we give them something to eat before they go to bed and in the morning before they leave, we give them something to eat again, to make sure they're taken care of that way."

Hess said: "a lot of people who volunteered -- they got a lot of satisfaction out of it -- that's the feedback I’ve heard. That a lot of them felt it helped them grow spiritually and grow as individuals to help citizens who are vulnerable and in need."

And perhaps it saved lives.

"I would say it's a very good likelihood,” Hess said.

"It's always hard to make that guess, but I know that we stepped in where a lot of people wouldn't have had places to have shelter, and they did, and they were treated well, cared for. That’s always a great thing," Irwin said.

A great thing that's about to get bigger.

Two other churches have submitted applications already, and two more are considering it.

 

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compuuuter said on Tuesday, Oct 11 at 11:12 PM

REMEMBER THE FIRST CHRISTMAS, WHEN A FAMILY OF 3 NEEDED A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP. i'm not suggesting that individual people turn their living rooms into a mini bfs/beans. however, this winter safety thing is way overdue. thank you anchorage assembly and churches!

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