VOICE OF THE TOWNSHIP
Some of my administrative staff recently visited the Ave Maria House. This is the facility that opened this past Summer to provide a day shelter for homeless persons.
My staff was very impressed with the work this new shelter is doing to help the homeless population in Wayne Township. The shelter is a mission of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, which has done so much to help those in need.
Our staff at the Wayne Township Trustee’s Office provides as much help as we can to homeless persons. We help them meet their food and medical needs. We help with job searches. We open up our lobby in the morning and provide coffee and donated snacks, when available, to those who have spent the night without shelter.
But as a government entity with legal restrictions and limited funds, we cannot meet all the needs of the increasing numbers of homeless in our Township. That is why our partners in the nonprofit and charitable community, such as Ave Maria House, are so valuable.
On the chilly day my staff went to Ave Maria House, the facility was literally filled with clients. The clients were enjoying coffee and donuts and visiting with each other in the warmth of the home-like setting.
The Ave Maria House is a restored older home across from St. Mary’s Church. It offers laundry and shower facilities for clients. There is a kitchen where a client was heating up the lunch he had received from the St. Mary’s Soup kitchen on the day my staff was there. Homeless persons also can use the Ave Maria House for their mailing address, a very important function for persons applying for or receiving benefits.
The day shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Its director is Dottie Carpenter, a spunky lady who volunteers her time and enthusiastically shows visitors what the shelter has to offer while multitasking by helping clients.
I also was pleased to learn that another of our partners, Interfaith Hospitality Network, opened a new shelter a few weeks ago for homeless families. Until Interfaith obtained this shelter, the families they help were staying in churches.
Dianna Morton, program casemanager for Interfaith, said once the new shelter on East State Boulevard is fully functional, it will be able to house forty persons. Their goal is to be able to help persons on a 24-hour basis seven days a week. But, for now, families needing a place to stay can call the Interfaith Hospitality Network at 458-9772 for a phone intake from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Wayne Township has many other community partners with which we work on a daily basis. We are so thankful when we can help our clients with their basic necessities. We also are thankful for our community partners.
Richard A. Stevenson, Sr.
Wayne Township Trustee
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