MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The arrival of winter weather in the Morgantown area has prompted the warming shelter at Hazel’s House of Hope to open early.
The Grace Shelter opened a few days ahead of its scheduled Dec. 16 start date, where seven unsheltered individuals were able to avoid below-freezing temperatures that arrived on Wednesday. Shelter Director Dr. Jessica Thompson reported that the decision was made due to a combination of the winter weather as well as the shelter being 100 percent operational in the days ahead of its official opening. This included the provision of both beds and essentials for up to 22 unsheltered individuals.
“December 15 through March 15 was the date that the city said, and we were able to get all of our supplies in and staffing on board, so with that, we decided to open a few days early because of the weather,” said Thompson.
People who are taken into the Grace Shelter will be provided with not only a place to sleep but will also be given clothes and other goods to withstand the winter months. This includes donated hats, gloves, hand and feet warmers, along with individual toiletries that can be used inside the shelter. Daily meals will also be provided in partnership with the Hope Cafe, as well as chances for people inside the shelter to shower or take care of whatever personal grooming they feel is needed.
“We provide pillows and blankets, they also receive a little backpack full of different items,” said Thompson on WAJR’s Talk of the Town. “(Items) such as scarves and hats and some water, we also have bathroom facilities for them to use,” she said.
Personal property will also be kept in a secure place for anyone who is accepted inside the Grace Shelter. While no lockers have been provided, people who stay inside the shelter will be required to leave items that might be considered dangerous (i.e. sharps, firearms, etc.) in a container before they are given bed accommodations. Thompson added that anyone who leaves the shelter for the day will be given back their belongings as soon as they check out.
“We put it in a secure location and label it with their name, that way you know we don’t destroy anything, it’s theirs,” said Thompson. “No questions asked, we just ask that they don’t use while they’re in the shelter,” she said.
Thompson also mentioned that the Grace Shelter also creates an environment to get people into long-term housing for those who use one of their 22 available beds. Not only are unsheltered individuals required to sign a “character agreement” for any long-term stays at the shelter, but services will also be provided by shelter staff that will vary from rehab and recovery programs to job connection and identification services. With winter weather arriving in full force in the Morgantown area, Thompson hopes the Grace Shelter will provide both short-term and long-term services.
“We invite the public to come up and take a tour of our facility,” said Thompson. “We’ve done updates and changes to make the shelter more personable, so please, come up and take a look, I’ll be happy to talk with anyone,” she said.
The Grace Shelter is operated by Catholic Charities West Virginia and is funded with the support of the City of Morgantown and Monongalia County Commission.