Spokane shelters reach capacity

For the individuals who use the services provided by the House of Charity, the Hope House, and the Crosswalk Teen Shelter, food, clothing and shelter are not something to be taken for granted. These men, women and children appreciate the value of these often-considered commodities.  

Jerry Schwab, assistant director at the House of Charity, considers these three commodities the shelter's top priorities.

"We have a very strong meal program here at the House of Charity. We have many volunteers who help out in the kitchen and two culinary arts trained cooks on staff, so our patrons are very well fed. We also have an extensive clothing bank that we are happy to offer to the community. Additionally, we have enough beds to house 108 men at a time. We consider food, clothing and shelter the pillars of our service and do the best we can to provide," Schwab said.

The House of Charity is an all-male shelter located in downtown Spokane. It was originally founded in 1958 and, according to Schwab, has been a constant source of aid since.

"We probably service 250 to 300 individuals every day. And at night, every bed is filled. There's even a waiting list that can get up to 20 men a night. We really are in high demand," Schwab said.

In addition to providing daily necessities, the House of Charity teams up with Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center to offer a free medical clinic every Tuesday and Friday. Schwab acknowledges this clinic as one of the shelter's most appreciated services.

"It's pretty amazing the needs some people come to the shelter with. The clinic is definitely beneficial to many," Schwab said.

The House of Charity employs 22 staff members and more than 140 volunteers.Responsibilities of the staff and volunteers include collecting donations, handing out pajamas and helping to prepare meals.

"There's no way we would be able to do what we do without our staff and volunteers. Our goal is to service as much of the community as possible, and they really help accomplish that," Schwab said.

Gonzaga junior Alex Hedin volunteers at St. Margaret's Shelter, a resource for women and their children. She acknowledges the sadness in working with the women using the shelter, but also recognizes its positives.

"The most rewarding part of volunteering is knowing I've helped people and I am actually making a difference in my community. It's one of my goals to shed light upon the hardships of Spokane and embrace volunteering opportunities," Hedin said.

Rusty Barnett, program director of the Hope House and the Crosswalk Teen Shelter, also recognizes the importance of committed staff and volunteers.    

"Our staff's main priority is to make sure the shelters are safe and secure. Our volunteers have to be prepared to do anything from handing out pajamas to sitting down and talking with the individuals at the shelter. Both groups are vital," Barnett said.

The Hope House is an all women shelter located in downtown Spokane. The shelter can house up to 34 women and is filled to capacity every night, according to Barnett.

The Crosswalk Teen Shelter, also located in downtown Spokane, offers residence to teens from ages 13 to 17. Though they provide many education and family related services to teenagers, Barnett noted that using the shelter as a warming center is one of its most important services this time of year.

When temperatures in Spokane dip below 15 degrees, many local shelters also serve as warming centers, meaning they provide additional services to help patrons cope with the cold.

The House of Charity is able to accommodate up to 75 additional men when they enter emergency mode.         

"Usually, we give the men filling our beds pajamas and then send them to bed. When we serve as a warming center, we allow men to come in and sleep on the floor of the first level. We give them a pillow and two blankets and let them spend the night. When the temperature drops we normally get around 50 a night, but we have space for up to 75," Schwab said.

The Hope House offers similar services.

"We can't house too many extra women because of limited space, but we service as many as possible. When we act as a warming center, we allow additional women to spend the night in our intake area and provide them with food and blankets," Barnett said.

Though both shelter associates feel they are able to provide safe havens for the Spokane community, they also acknowledge a desire to offer more service in the winter.

"Obviously the level of concern increases as the temperature decreases," Barnett said. "We do a lot, but we always wish we could do more."