HEADING HOME

• Prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless.
   

• Provide temporary shelter, alternative housing, and supportive services for those who are temporarily homeless until permanent housing is available.
   

• Provide permanent housing with supportive services to meet the long-term needs of homeless individuals.
   

• Increase economic opportunities for homeless people.
   

• Implement effective governance and staffing structure.
   

• Promote awareness and advocacy.
   

• Develop systems to support efficient and effective plan implementation.

The Severe Weather season has ended in Jefferson County but is not forgotten.  Can you imagine what it might be like to live on the streets during the cold weather months of year? 

Our guests tell us it is lonely, it is frigidly cold, it is hungry. There is not easy access to resources to take necessary steps toward a life off the streets. Jefferson County is a very large county. Service organizations are primarily located in the center of the county, leaving people experiencing homelessness very challenged to make important connections. Transportation is a never-ending challenge.

Severe Weather Shelter Network is currently the only emergency shelter in Jefferson County operating November through the end of April. Through our many partnerships, we are able to connect individuals the length and breadth of Jefferson County to emergency shelter on life-threatening winter nights. Even so, there isn't enough coverage, especially south of Hampden Ave. 

We celebrate the 700 plus volunteers throughout the Network that make sheltering possible. We celebrate that we have sheltered more than 30 days this past season and have welcomed more than 300 individuals into our space. Shoes are being provided. Sleeping bags are being replaced. Backpacks are restored. But even more importantly, our guests are experiencing warmth in the welcome they receive, the hot, home-cooked meal they eat and the fellowship with volunteers around the table. 

You can join us!  Visit our volunteer page at https://swshelternetwork.com/volunteers/

Choose which part of the County you are interested in and then fill out the online volunteer application. We will get you connected and welcome you to our next shelter season!   Please consider joining our Severe Weather meetings (see below) this summer to help plan for the 2019-20 season.

Looking forward to receiving you, 

Lynn Ann Huizingh

Executive Director

Severe Weather 2019 Meeting Schedule

Severe Weather meetings take place the 3rd Thursday of each month from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the Remington Building's large training room located at 11011 W 6th Ave. Lakewood on the following dates in 2019.  All are welcome to attend!

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• September 19th

• October 17th

• November 21st