The Ossining Emergency Shelter Project plans to officially open its door for this winter season on Sunday, December 11, 2016.

ADDRESSING THE NEED THIS WINTER

Ossining, NY, Thursday, December 8, 2016: Throughout the last couple of years homelessness and severe poverty have been recognized by local churches, social service organizations and residents. We have seen the homeless population find a warm place to be at local venues including but not limited to our community center, churches and our library.

OSSINING’S CHALLENGING TIME

The current apartment vacancy rate in Ossining is very low, driving up rental fees and making it virtually impossible to find housing, particularly for day laborers, minimum wage and even middle income workers. Families double and triple up in unsafe housing, and a number of people are sporadically or permanently homeless, particularly among immigrant day laborers and those suffering from mental illness.[1]

“This is something relatively simple that we can do to help people during the coldest month of the year.” Said Karen D’Attore, IFCA Housing Network Executive Director.

ADDRESSING THE NEED LAST YEAR

Last year, churches which included Trinity Episcopal Church in Ossining, among support from St. Paul’s-on-the-Hill, IFCA Housing Network and several other congregations successfully operated the shelter as a pilot project for three weeks during the coldest days of the winter. Other congregations and organizations that assisted the pilot program included County Legislator Catherine Borgia, Scarborough Presbyterian Church, Briarcliff Congregational Church, Temple Israel of Northern Westchester, the Ethical Society of Northern Westchester and the Girl Scouts. The program is modeled on the successful Emergency Shelter Partnership based in Mt. Kisco, NY. The group had the opportunity to help 12 Ossining-based homeless individuals last year. As the word gets out, organizers expect the number to rise for this year.

Ossining has a long history of coming together to meet the needs of our community members. This shelter provides a vital safety net for the homeless as we head into the cold winter months. I'm very proud to partner with this coalition and to have the county serve our community said Catherine Borgia, Majority Leader of the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

The main goal of the Ossining Emergency Shelter Project is to provide a safe and warm overnight shelter and a bagged lunch to any homeless person in our community during the coldest months of the winter season.

“Homelessness and poverty are sadly a reality in Ossining, just because you don’t see it-does not mean it is not there. I am so proud of these congregations, organizations and residents who have stepped up to face and address such a need head on.” Said Omar J. Herrera, Former Village of Ossining Deputy Mayor.

MOVING FORWARD

With the leadership of the Briarcliff Ossining Ministerial Association and IFCA, we are now in the process of trying to institutionalize the shelter, with a goal of having it open every night for the five coldest months of the year. The Church of St. Ann’s in Ossining and the Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church have now joined our group, as well, and we are actively reaching out to other congregations.[i]

“It is encouraging that we will now be open for 10 weeks and we hope to make our guest comfortable in our various churches. Thanks to the many people who make this possible.” Said The Rev. Cooper Conway, Priest in Charge of Trinity and St. Paul’s Episcopal Churches in Ossining.

HOW IT WORKS

As with the Mt. Kisco Emergency Shelter Partnership, the Ossining Emergency Shelter is designed to reside at one host location for a week at a time.

· Each night the host organization provides a space for the guests to sleep and one or two volunteers to keep an eye on things on behalf of the host.

· Other host or community volunteers contribute the food in kind, and prepare, serve and clean up after meals.

· A paid bilingual shelter manager manages the shelter overnight during the hours of operation (9 PM to 7 AM.)

· The manager is responsible for outreach and transporting people to and from the shelter, as well as supervising those individuals seeking shelter.

HOW IS THIS FUNDED

The Ossining Emergency Shelter Project is being independently operated and funded through financial support from several churches, organizations and residents.

LAUNCHING THE 2^nd YEAR OF SHELTER 2016-2017

The Ossining Emergency Shelter Project plans to officially open its door for this winter season on Sunday, December 11, 2016. The shelter is to be open from 9PM to 7AM during the coldest months of the year to any homeless person in our community.

NEED SHELTER?

· Gather by 9PM in front of the Ossining Open Door on Main Street to be picked up by the Shelter Manager and taken to the Shelter.

HOW YOU CAN HELP. WE NEED YOU. Donate. Volunteer. Host.

The Ossining Emergency Shelter follows a tried and true model and that makes it fairly easy to host or to volunteer your services to feed the shelter residents – we need both hosts and volunteers. The Emergency Shelter Partnership in Mt. Kisco has been providing a similar, successful rotating shelter in northern Westchester since 2004. - http://stpaulsonthehill.org/mi...