HOLYCITYMISSIONS[HCM]WINTERWARMINGSHELTER1444REMOUNTROAD,NORTHCHARLESTONSC29406DECEMBER1,2023–MARCH15,2024
Dear HCM Volunteer:Since 2015, HCM Winter Warming Shelter has been serving individuals experiencing homelessness byproviding delicious meals, winter clothing, hygiene items, hot showers, optional worship/devotion, andsafe shelter. We could not have provided shelter over the past 6 seasons, including the critical season of COVID-19, for up to 75 unique individuals without our volunteers/partnership churches. The emergencyshelter we provide to our guests is critical to their safety as many of them don’t have any otheralternative. This safe haven is provided because of your generous gift of time, support, and services.It is our mission to welcome homeless men, women, and children in need of safe shelter and serviceswithout judgment. The open feeling of our shelter facility, the intake process, and the boundaries we set all help to create a safe environment, as do the staff interactions with guests. We offer a Low Barrierseasonal shelter. Low Barrier means that there is no sobriety requirement and even those who areinebriated or high may still enter the shelter. However, there is
zero
tolerance for drugs/alcohol on site.We also insist that despite the challenges of drugs/alcohol, guests staying at our HCM shelter must becooperative, follow staff directives and respect self, others, and our property. During your timevolunteering with HCM Warming Shelter, you will be working under the supervision of HCM Coordinatorslisted below. Please feel free to ask them for any help or guidance needed.We are obligated by law to keep guest information confidential, so please don’t ask staff questions about our guests that they are not able to answer. We also ask that you keep guest information confidential. It is ok, for example, to speak generally about your volunteer experience at HCM but we request that you donot talk about individuals by name or discuss their specific situation with anyone other than staff.If you notice something that doesn’t seem right or you overhear something that concerns you, pleasenotify staff; we can’t be in all places and oversee all activities so we appreciate you being our extra eyesand ears.We look forward to serving our guests with you. Thank you for giving your time and serving with us tothe benefit of our homeless and underserved community members.If you or your group would like a tour of our facility or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact theundersigned coordinators at any time. Thank you!!!
JUDITH PFAEHLER AMBER HENRY Coly Snowden[843]200-5402 [843]640-1755
jpfaehler@gmail.com histengr@gmail.com coley.snowden@anchorce.com
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HOLYCITYMISSION[HCM]WINTERWARMINGSHELTERDECEMBER1,2024–MARCH15,2025
SHELTER PURPOSE = To provide an overnight shelter to the homeless & under-housed on cold winternights. This ecumenical ministry provides a Christian witness to the poor & larger Charlestoncommunity.SHELTER GOALS = [1] To provide warm, dry, & safe housing for our homeless & under-housed neighborson winter nights with either inclement weather or temps below 35 degrees, or both. [2] To developdeeper relationships with our guests. [3] To create a space for congregation members to be challenged toserve Jesus in ways that are outside our conventional or comfortable ways of doing church.SHELTER RULES = Please refer to below Rules & Hold Harmless Agreement for specific details.PHYSICAL CONTACT BETWEEN GUESTS = HCM has a very strict policy of no physical contact betweenguests. This includes everything, hand holding, kissing, etc
…
..
absolutely no touching
. This includescontact between husband/wives, boyfriends/girlfriends, etc. Of course, it is understood no physicalcontact with guests extends to staff and volunteers as well.CONFIDENTIALITY = As mentioned in the volunteer letter, by law we need to keep information about ourguests confidential including their names. It is important to understand that in the course of your work with HCM Warming Shelter, you may learn of certain facts about individuals being served by our shelterthat are of a highly personal and confidential nature. Examples of such information are: reason forhomelessness, medical condition and treatment, finances, living arrangements, substance abuse history,employment, sexual orientation, relationships with family members and others, etc. It is appropriate totalk to HCM staff about any questions you have about maintaining confidentiality of guest information.Please keep in mind that after you leave HCM you are still obligated to maintain this confidentiality andnot disclose specific information and any HCM guest.OTHER RESTRICTIONS = It is only natural to want to help guests who come to our shelter. However, werespectfully request proper boundaries be maintained and that you do not share your personal contact information with them, pick up guests in your personal vehicle, etc. This is important not only to protect our guests who may be in a vulnerable state, but also to protect you as a volunteer. You may not be awareof certain things in a HCM guest’s personal history that may be problematic in a setting outside theshelter. Please let staff know if an individual guest requests “needed” items from you or asks you to makea purchase for them. Please do not go out and purchase items for an individual guest without first speaking to a coordinator. There are usually other resources we can direct them to if we can’t meet theirrequest. Of course, HCM always appreciates a general donation that staff can distribute to persons withgreatest need.PARTNER CHURCHES = Send out letters requesting support. Once responses are received:Schedule & provide training for partner, supporting churches & warming shelter teamSafe Sanctuary available for reviewObtain contact info for each volunteerFormalize & publish event calendarOnce finalized, post in kitchenSUPPORTING CHURCHES = Offer assistance to Partner Churches by providing ameal/volunteers/assisting with laundry the next morning/collecting donations[food/clothes/shoes/toilet articles, funds etc].
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DETERMINATION TO OPEN SHELTER = 48 hours in advance, determine 35 degree temperature based onzip code 29406 using Weather Channel App.OPENING NOTICE = if conditions warrant shelter opening, notify following members/agencies 48 hoursin advance: Warming Shelter POCs/partner & supporting churches scheduledCONTACT INFO: Shelter POCs and police department contact numbers are posted on board in thekitchen.TRANSPORTATION = CARTA [Jeff Burns] FREE to & from shelter. First bus from Church in the morning.Schedule will be posted for everyone to see.PETS are
not
allowed in the facility. If a guest arrives with Certified Service Animal, contact North ChasPolice Dept & request to have the guest transported to a facility that can house pets.Charleston Animal society Outreach = Bryant Taylor
BTaylor@CharlestonAnimalSociety.org
and Patrick Allen
PAllen@CharlestonAnimalSociety.org
. Call for animal assistance or crates/food etc.All keys will remain in the kitchen closet for day-to-day access.
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