Cold Weather Shelter Prepares to Reach Capacity
By: Sarah Hatten
Updated: December 28, 2012
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) With winter weather finally making its way to the Midwest, it's time for area agencies to open their doors to those in need.
The Cold Weather Shelter is preparing to house the homeless, and supervisors say this year, they're expecting to reach capacity every night.
Inside the shelter, a few cots and blankets line the floor. To some, it may not look like much, but to others, it's a lifeline during the winter months.
"People we see are typically just trying to get out of the cold and they just don't have anywhere else to be," Randy Sharp, of Community Missions said.
Even though last winter was pretty mild for the Midwest, The Cold Weather Shelter reached capacity almost every night, housing between 14 and 20 people, some staying on sleeping bags on the floor.
This year the shelter is preparing to serve as many as they can.
"People are still on the streets, and they have no place to go, and we know that, and even when it's 30 degrees out, that's still very cold," Sharp said.
The shelter is supposed to be a last resort to help people who can't help themselves.
"These are folks who have severe barriers to stable housing, like disabilities, mental illness, a lot of health problems and substance abuse issues," Sharp said.
Sharp says he's surprised by the reactions of many who walk through the doors.
"They had a sense of gratitude, they had a sense of why are you doing this for me? I'm worthless- that was their feelings. Why are you being so nice to me?" he said.
Sharp says those who frequent the shelter usually spend time there for two or three years before becoming more independent.
The ultimate goal isn't providing a temporary roof over their heads.
"Having people have a warm place to sleep, a safe place to be, get a meal, then start to engage them about long-term goal of getting them off the streets permanently into some sort of better situation for them," Sharp said.
The shelter stays open for three months, beginning in January.
The Cold Weather Shelter is preparing to house the homeless, and supervisors say this year, they're expecting to reach capacity every night.
Inside the shelter, a few cots and blankets line the floor. To some, it may not look like much, but to others, it's a lifeline during the winter months.
"People we see are typically just trying to get out of the cold and they just don't have anywhere else to be," Randy Sharp, of Community Missions said.
Even though last winter was pretty mild for the Midwest, The Cold Weather Shelter reached capacity almost every night, housing between 14 and 20 people, some staying on sleeping bags on the floor.
This year the shelter is preparing to serve as many as they can.
"People are still on the streets, and they have no place to go, and we know that, and even when it's 30 degrees out, that's still very cold," Sharp said.
The shelter is supposed to be a last resort to help people who can't help themselves.
"These are folks who have severe barriers to stable housing, like disabilities, mental illness, a lot of health problems and substance abuse issues," Sharp said.
Sharp says he's surprised by the reactions of many who walk through the doors.
"They had a sense of gratitude, they had a sense of why are you doing this for me? I'm worthless- that was their feelings. Why are you being so nice to me?" he said.
Sharp says those who frequent the shelter usually spend time there for two or three years before becoming more independent.
The ultimate goal isn't providing a temporary roof over their heads.
"Having people have a warm place to sleep, a safe place to be, get a meal, then start to engage them about long-term goal of getting them off the streets permanently into some sort of better situation for them," Sharp said.
The shelter stays open for three months, beginning in January.
