Grace United Methodist Church, a winter overnight shelter location for women and non-binary persons
As temperatures begin to drop for the season, Harrisburg shelters are preparing to open their doors to those who need a place to escape the cold.
Three overnight shelters are set to open in the city on Dec. 1 to provide a haven for unhoused residents during the winter months.
Downtown Daily Bread will open its men’s shelter at 234 South St. on Thursday. Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area (CCU) will host a men’s shelter at 1805 N. 12th St. and a women and non-binary persons shelter at Grace United Methodist Church, 216 State St.
“It’s an essential safety thing,” said Darrel Reinford, executive director of CCU. “On really cold nights, being outside can be a risk to life and health. Having a warm place is important.”
This past winter season, the need for shelter was great and strained organizations as they tried to meet the demand. Reinford isn’t quite sure what will happen this winter, but still expects full shelters.
Factors such as a lack of affordable housing and increased rent prices are still exacerbating the issue of homelessness, according to Reinford. CCU also continues to receive a high volume of calls for assistance regularly.
“There are a lot of vulnerable people out there,” Reinford said.
Both of CCU’s shelters will begin check-in at 7:30 p.m. and have a capacity for around 20 to 25 people each night, and Downtown Daily Bread will check people in at 7 p.m. and can service about 30 to 35 people. Check-out time at all three locations is 7 a.m.
All of the overnight shelters will remain open through the end of March.
Additionally, Downtown Daily Bread offers breakfast from 7 to 8 a.m. on weekdays, lunch from 12 to 1 p.m. daily and runs a day shelter, seven days a week.
Each organization relies on staff members to operate the shelters, but also utilizes a small team of volunteers to help support staff and those staying in the shelters. The overnight shelters also provide a way for staff to connect community members in need with additional resources, Reinford explained.
For those who remain outside during the winter months, the Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness (CACH) conducts weekly outreach along with other local nonprofits.
Families with children in need of shelter can call CCU’s HELP Ministries at 717-238-2851 between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. At all other times, call Dauphin County Crisis Intervention at 717-232-7511.
For more information about Downtown Daily Bread, visit their website.
To volunteer with Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area or for more information, visit their website.
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