LACH shelter has bathing, laundry facilities this year
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
The Lancaster Area Coalition for the Homeless is renting a two-bedroom, one-bath house at 1242 Trestle Lane. The home will remain open until March 1, but that may be extended if cold weather lingers.
“It’s been difficult to find a location,” said Melanie Outlaw, United Way director and coalition chair.
“Many times the homeowners aren’t receptive to allowing their property to be used for the homeless.”
An open house will be held Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the home. The public is invited to visit.
LACH members walked through the home early this week and made a specific list of what is needed. That list will be available at the open house and posted on the Facebook pages of LACH and United Way of Lancaster County.
“Our community is very receptive and giving when you tell them what you need,” Outlaw said.
Due to limited storage at the facility, Outlaw asks donors to check the list or call the United Way before donating.
Last year’s warming center didn’t have a shower, tub or laundry facilities. It was located in the basement of a former children’s home at 721 E. Arch St.
“We are excited to offer this to the homeless this year,” Outlaw said.
Just like last year, the warming facility will be set up to serve a capacity of 10 homeless people.
“We were never at full capacity at any one given night last year,” Outlaw said. “If we need to adjust at any point, we will.”
LACH and United Way are seeking volunteers to supply meals and to oversee nightly operations. Those wishing to assist at the home must pass a SLED background check.
Training for the overnight shifts will be provided at the home Dec. 20 at noon or 6:30 p.m.
For more information on volunteering, contact Outlaw at (803) 283-8923.
Temperatures have been fairly mild recently, but are expected to plummet to the low 20s by the end of the week.
Temperatures in the low 40s are difficult to get through for those with no shelter from the cold, especially when it rains. This past Monday morning, with a fine mist falling, firefighters responded to a fire in a boarded-up home at 303 Ray Street where a small fire was burning in the middle of a room.
“We can’t actually say for sure that a homeless person set the fire, but it’s safe to assume that it was someone trying to stay warm,” said Lancaster Fire Chief Justin McLellan.
The fire was no surprise to Outlaw, who said volunteers saw traces of fires set inside abandoned apartments on Memorial Park Road last year when they were gathering data on the homeless.
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| This small, unassuming house on Trestle Lane will bring much needed relief to the city’s homeless this winter. The warming center offers laundry and shower facilities, warm meals and beds for those in need. |
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