Middletown homeless shelter’s work continues without leader

For the first time in 15 years, Roy Ickes won't be the backbone behind the efforts to serve the homeless, and those responsible for filling that void are feeling the pain.

“He just did so much. We probably took him for granted,” said Bill Fugate, one of the coordinators of Serving Homeless Alternate Lodging Of Middletown (SHALOM). “We’re all having to pick up the slack.”

Ickes, who directed the church-based homeless shelter with his wife, Pat, died Sept. 11. He was 87.

Now Fugate, along with four other coordinators representing area churches, are continuing the work the couple oversaw for many years.

At SHALOM, a network of Butler County churches houses and feeds the homeless for one week. The homeless gather at SHALOM’s headquarters at First United Methodist Church, 120 S. Broad St., then are transported at 4 p.m. every day to the host church.

Fugate said SHALOM served 89 guests — 54 men, 32 women and three children — last year.

SHALOM officials, like other homeless advocates around the county, are predicting a higher need for homeless services this year because of the lack of high-paying jobs, inadequate affordable housing, the heroin epidemic and the prediction of a bitterly cold winter.

SHALOM is open from Nov. 27 through March 12, and coordinators already are facing challenges, Fugate said. One church that was supposed to house the homeless for one week recently backed out, leaving SHALOM with an open date, Dec. 11-17.

Fugate said if a host church isn’t located, the shelter may have to close for one week, a move he regrets.

If a church is interested in hosting the homeless, members should call the SHALOM office at 513-423-7821.

SHALOM

Area churches take turns serving the homeless meals and providing lodging. Intakes of the homeless are at 4 p.m. every day at First United Methodist Church, 120 S. Broad St., Middletown. Then a van transports the homeless to the host church.

Call 513-423-7821 for more information.

2016-17 SCHEDULE

Nov. 27: First United Methodist

Dec. 4: Yankee Road Church of God

Dec. 11: TBD

Dec. 18: Breiel Church of God

Dec. 25: Christ United Methodist/First Christian

Jan. 1: Spring Hill Church of Christ

Jan. 8: Holy Family Parish

Jan. 15: Holy Family Parish

Jan. 22: First Presbyterian/Quest Church

Jan. 29: Crosspointe Church of Christ