Fugate said he expects this season to be “busier” than last year when a record number of clients was set. SHALOM served 129 homeless clients last year, breaking the previous year’s record by 10, he said.
He drives around downtown Middletown and sees “many new faces,” he said. That’s an indication more people will be needing SHALOM services this year. He’s not sure what’s bringing more homeless to Middletown.
While SHALOM isn’t open during the summer, Fugate said it provides services to the homeless, including identification cards, employment assistance, benefit paperwork and prescription medications.
Churches interested in hosting the homeless provide a dinner and breakfast within their church facilities and at least one chaperone for one week, though Fugate said it’s best to have two chaperones, one man and one woman. SHALOM provides the transportation and the bedding for the homeless.
The homeless are picked up every day at the SHALOM office at First United Methodist Church, 120 S. Broad St. Daily intakes are performed from 4-5 p.m. and the homeless are transported from the church every day at 5 p.m., then are returned to the office at 8 a.m. the next day.
SHALOM will have its initial organization meeting at 2:01 p.m. Oct. 9 at First United Methodist Church, 120 S. Broad St., Door No. 8. Those churches interested in participating in the SHALOM program should have a representative at the meeting.
For more information, email shalomhomeless@gmail.com.
Here is a tentative schedule for the 2019-2020 season at Serving the Homeless with Alternative Lodging Of Middletown (SHALOM):
Dec. 1-7: Open
Dec. 8-14: Open
Dec. 15-21: Open
Dec. 22-28: Open
Dec. 29-Jan. 4: Christ United Methodist/First Christian
Jan. 5-11: Holy Family Parish
Jan. 12-18: Holy Family Parish
Jan. 19-25: First Baptist
Jan. 26-Feb. 1: First Presbyterian/Christian Enterprise Baptist
Feb. 2-8: Open
Feb. 9-15: Open
Feb. 16-22: Stratford Heights Church of God
Feb. 23-29: Open
March 1-7: First United Methodist
About the Author
