LMA Warming ShelterMinistry
Donation protected
On January 4th, 2016 the Lake Ministerial Association (LMA) opened a winter Warming Shelter. Our final night was April 1st. We were open a total of 65 nights.
Who and how many people did we provide shelter for? We welcomed a total of 85 guests. Of these 57% had family and/or close friends in Lake County. Some were raised here and went to school with the shelter volunteers. Others remember neighbors from years gone by. Only 20 were raised out of county and 16 guests reported no friends or family in any location.
Of the 85 we served, 11 reported being Veterans. 66% of our guests were male and 34% female. Nine of our guests were under the age of 14. Twelve guests were between the ages of 20-29. Twelve between the ages of 30-39. Fourteen between the ages of 40-49. The largest age group is among those from 50 to 59 years with 23 guests falling into this range. Nine guests were between 60 and 69. One guest was 70 years old. 5 are not listed in this age breakdown.
They became homeless for a variety of reasons, escaping mentally ill or drug addicted families, their own drug addiction, death of the family provider, mental illness, job loss and more.
5 guests found regular employment while staying with us. 8 found sustainable shelter. Two families moved to another community with a plan for finding housing.
Friends, we have a homeless problem, in Lake County, but it is not what you think. “Having a homeless problem” does not mean you have a problem because you can now see people who are homeless. Having a homeless problem means that we have neighbors who are homeless and we can help but many chose not to. Homelessness is a reality in our community. The question is, “what can we do to provide shelter for our homeless neighbors?” Harassing them to leave the county is no more ethical than another county trying to force their homeless population here.
This year we are working to open the Warming Shelter again. We plan to open on Christmas Eve, the night that commemorates not only the birth of Jesus, but the first time scripture records Jesus and his family were made homeless. He would become homeless again, as a refugee fleeing for his life to Egypt, and later as an adult when Matthew 8:20 records the reality of it, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Please help us fund this year’s Warming Shelter. We plan to be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and then Monday to Friday through March 31. It’s not a total solution, but we are working on that too! Please be generous.
Who and how many people did we provide shelter for? We welcomed a total of 85 guests. Of these 57% had family and/or close friends in Lake County. Some were raised here and went to school with the shelter volunteers. Others remember neighbors from years gone by. Only 20 were raised out of county and 16 guests reported no friends or family in any location.
Of the 85 we served, 11 reported being Veterans. 66% of our guests were male and 34% female. Nine of our guests were under the age of 14. Twelve guests were between the ages of 20-29. Twelve between the ages of 30-39. Fourteen between the ages of 40-49. The largest age group is among those from 50 to 59 years with 23 guests falling into this range. Nine guests were between 60 and 69. One guest was 70 years old. 5 are not listed in this age breakdown.
They became homeless for a variety of reasons, escaping mentally ill or drug addicted families, their own drug addiction, death of the family provider, mental illness, job loss and more.
5 guests found regular employment while staying with us. 8 found sustainable shelter. Two families moved to another community with a plan for finding housing.
Friends, we have a homeless problem, in Lake County, but it is not what you think. “Having a homeless problem” does not mean you have a problem because you can now see people who are homeless. Having a homeless problem means that we have neighbors who are homeless and we can help but many chose not to. Homelessness is a reality in our community. The question is, “what can we do to provide shelter for our homeless neighbors?” Harassing them to leave the county is no more ethical than another county trying to force their homeless population here.
This year we are working to open the Warming Shelter again. We plan to open on Christmas Eve, the night that commemorates not only the birth of Jesus, but the first time scripture records Jesus and his family were made homeless. He would become homeless again, as a refugee fleeing for his life to Egypt, and later as an adult when Matthew 8:20 records the reality of it, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Please help us fund this year’s Warming Shelter. We plan to be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and then Monday to Friday through March 31. It’s not a total solution, but we are working on that too! Please be generous.
Organizer
Shannon Kimbell-Auth
Organizer
Lakeport, CA
