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Last updated on Tuesday, November 28, 2017
(BEDFORD) - Father Rick Eldred of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church confirmed that the Men’s Warming Shelter will return to its original location on 17th and K Streets for the upcoming winter months.
The shelter will open January 3rd, 2018 and will remain open until the end of March.
The City of Bedford had purchased the building earlier this year. Mayor Shawna Girgis welcomed the idea of reopening the Warming Shelter at that location.
"She has just been terrific on all of this. She got right on it and she got the different departments in the city to look at the building to make sure it is safe to make whatever adjustments needed to be to bring it up to code for our usage. And we're leasing for a dollar a month," said Father Rick.
The warming shelter was started five years ago.
"St. Vincent de Paul along with Captain Donna from the Salvation Army started it, you know, five years ago. There was a gentleman that froze to death in the alley the year before, because there was no facilities in Bedford," Father Rick added.
Since the beginning, the Warming Shelter continues to grow in the number of clients served. Last year, Harp Commons was used as the Warming Shelter and there was a total of 19 clients to use the facility.
Father Rick said that he expects that number to continue to grow.
"We're working with industry and community leaders and organizations to work on developing a year round facility for men's homelessness and as well as for an addiction center. But there's a lot of hurdles that we are jumping through that just takes time," said Father Rick.
Volunteers are always needed to help at the Warming Shelter. Volunteers are needed from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. If you would like to help, please call the Warming Center at (812) 675-6361.
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