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As the nights get longer and colder, the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing is preparing to once again provide accommodations for the city’s homeless men.
The shelter, which operates at one of six area churches on a rotating basis throughout the winter, opened Dec. 1.
The group held an open house and kickoff celebration at its new permanent intake center Nov. 24.
The intake center, located at 684 Forrest Ave., is the first stop for men who wish to stay at the shelter overnight.
Shelter manager Erich Gillespie said the center provides the men with a warm place to wait for transport to the night’s shelter location, as well as refreshments and a bathroom with a shower.
The intake center can accept up to 30 men each night and will be open daily from 4 to 5:30 p.m., at which time the men are driven by van to the shelter.
Before leaving the intake center, each man participates in a private interview where shelter volunteers record their personal information and medical needs, and discuss their efforts to obtain jobs. Those under the influence of drugs or alcohol are not allowed in the shelter, Gillespie said.
Jeanine Kleimo, chairwoman of the shelter’s board of directors, said that the main purpose of the intake center is to determine what kind of help each shelter resident needs. The shelter will bring in job posters and representatives from social service agencies that can offer assistance based on the needs articulated in the intake interview, she said.
This counseling is provided at the intake center as well as at the shelter locations.
Six churches have volunteered to host the shelter for two- to five-week periods through March — Dover Seventh-day Adventist Church, Holy Trinity Church, Christ Episcopal Church, Faith Community Church, Dover First Baptist Church and the Presbyterian Church of Dover.
Kleimo said more than 20 additional churches have offered support or volunteered to staff the shelter.
Though the group has applied for several grants, Kleimo said at this point all funding is through donations from churches and individuals.
For information about volunteering or donating money or supplies, call Gillespie at 387-7801. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 1148, Dover, DE 19903.
Email Doug Denison at doug.denison@doverpost.com.
As the nights get longer and colder, the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing is preparing to once again provide accommodations for the city’s homeless men.
The shelter, which operates at one of six area churches on a rotating basis throughout the winter, opened Dec. 1.
The group held an open house and kickoff celebration at its new permanent intake center Nov. 24.
The intake center, located at 684 Forrest Ave., is the first stop for men who wish to stay at the shelter overnight.
Shelter manager Erich Gillespie said the center provides the men with a warm place to wait for transport to the night’s shelter location, as well as refreshments and a bathroom with a shower.
The intake center can accept up to 30 men each night and will be open daily from 4 to 5:30 p.m., at which time the men are driven by van to the shelter.
Before leaving the intake center, each man participates in a private interview where shelter volunteers record their personal information and medical needs, and discuss their efforts to obtain jobs. Those under the influence of drugs or alcohol are not allowed in the shelter, Gillespie said.
Jeanine Kleimo, chairwoman of the shelter’s board of directors, said that the main purpose of the intake center is to determine what kind of help each shelter resident needs. The shelter will bring in job posters and representatives from social service agencies that can offer assistance based on the needs articulated in the intake interview, she said.
This counseling is provided at the intake center as well as at the shelter locations.
Six churches have volunteered to host the shelter for two- to five-week periods through March — Dover Seventh-day Adventist Church, Holy Trinity Church, Christ Episcopal Church, Faith Community Church, Dover First Baptist Church and the Presbyterian Church of Dover.
Kleimo said more than 20 additional churches have offered support or volunteered to staff the shelter.
Though the group has applied for several grants, Kleimo said at this point all funding is through donations from churches and individuals.
For information about volunteering or donating money or supplies, call Gillespie at 387-7801. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 1148, Dover, DE 19903.
Email Doug Denison at doug.denison@doverpost.com.
