LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake Ministerial Association intends to operate its warming center for the homeless for the third year, and the group is hosting a community meeting this week to share information about its plans.
The association said the center will open on Monday, Dec. 4, and will again be based at the Lakeport Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1111 Park Way.
Organizers will hold an open house on Monday, Nov. 6, starting at 6 p.m. at the church.
They encourage neighbors, elected officials, community members and any other interested parties to attend.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions, learn more about the program and sign up to volunteer.
The center will be open five days a week – Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. – and is limited to 24 guests per night.
All guests go through an intake process and must arrive no later than 8 p.m.
The best practice is to check in at the bus stop at the old Natural High School, opposite St. Mary’s, in Lakeport.
The last night for this winter season will be March 30, 2018.
The center is operating under a major use permit approved by the county of Lake. The fiscal sponsor is Kelseyville United Methodist Church.
Community members will be offered a safe, warm place to sleep, along with dinner and breakfast, hot showers and laundry assistance. Pets are welcome but must stay in a designated area outside the building.
Additional services include assistance with obtaining valid IDs, computer and WiFi access for job training and housing searches, and family reunification mediation.
The warming center is part of a coordinated group of solution providers in the county who are working to improve the lives of the most vulnerable citizens.
Center volunteers build trust with homeless neighbors and introduce them to service providers who want to help but often don’t know where to begin.
An assistant manager and a security guard will be on site during open hours. Additional positions including meal preparers and servers, overnight sleepers, intake personnel, laundry and shower assistants are filled by community volunteers.
Many community groups choose to provide dinner or “to-go” breakfasts or fill volunteer positions one night a week.
Volunteers report that they have their hearts opened and now see the homeless in an entirely new light – as neighbors.
Last year, the center served 101 homeless individuals and, after the floods, served an additional 100 evacuated individuals, including many families. On an average night, 24 individuals were served.
Last year’s warming center guests have lived locally a combined total of 1,038 years and seven months for an average amount of 11 years living in the county. The only reason the average is not higher is because several of the youngest have lived here their entire lives which consisted of only five to six months so far.
Thirteen percent of the guests last year were veterans.
Nine of the homeless persons sheltered last winter were under the age of 18, but during the floods, this number increased to 39 children needing shelter. Nineteen of the guests at the warming center were over the age of 59.
Center organizers also reported that two guests died on weekends when the center was closed.
Every night the center was open there was a minimum of six volunteers. Some nights there were significantly more. People from all over the community willingly give of themselves to make this center a success.
There were 62 registered volunteers; 39 of those volunteers represented 11 different church and community organizations and at least three county workers. Twenty-three of them were unaffiliated, warm-hearted people from the community at large.
The center helped three guests find regular employment, and created four jobs – two full-time and two part-time; reunited two families; helped others get valid identification; and connected all guests to medical services as needed.
For the upcoming season, donations are needed to open the shelter and keep it open through March 2018.
Checks may be made payable to Kelseyville United Methodist Church and sent to P.O. Box 446, Kelseyville, CA 95451. Please write Warming Center on the memo line.
A Go Fund Me Account is also available for donations at https://www.gofundme.com/lma-warming-shelterministry/donate.
In addition, sleeping bags and pillows are always in high demand and may be dropped off at the center beginning on Dec. 4.
For more information or to volunteer contact the center at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit its Facebook page at Lake Ministerial Association Warming Center.
Lake Ministerial Association plans December warming center opening; open house set for Nov. 6
- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
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