Welcome House Shelter

The Welcome House Emergency Shelter provides a safe place for approximately 30 homeless women and children. Guests of the shelter work with Service Coordinators and other Welcome House staff to increase income and access affordable housing while removing any challenges or barriers to success.

While working toward greater stability, clients are offered a safe place to live, warm meals, any needed hygiene supplies, and extra assistance (such as help with transportation and referrals to area resources). Shelter residents benefit from the caring support of a 24 hour staff member, various volunteers, and donors who help meet their needs.

In 2015, 135 children were part of the many individuals who stayed in Shelter. Fifty-two percent of the children served were under six years of age. Children who stay in the shelter (as well as those of other families working with Welcome House) have the support of a staff member dedicated to meeting their needs and protecting their rights. Mothers are offered assistance in enrolling children into school and daycare, and in meeting the material needs of their school-aged children.

The average length of stay at the shelter was 35 days. During their shelter stays in 2015:

    100% of shelter clients accessed support services while at the shelter, such as the care of visiting nurses, mental health and substance abuse referrals, and parenting and life skills coaching.
     73% of our clients exited shelter to positive housing outcomes
     68% of 185 households had income at exit (and more residents accessed non-cash benefits such as WIC, SNAPS benefits, and health insurance enrollment while in shelter).