Easton's Safe Harbor is both a drop-in center and homeless shelter for adults who've fallen on hard times. If you think that its clients consist solely of drug addicts or alcoholics, think again. Sarah Stehlin, Director of Development at the shelter, told NorCo Council last week that five of its current residents are seniors who lost everything as a result of online scam artists. She mentioned that while providing an overview of the facility.
Safe Harbor is actually the product of Lafayette students and local church leaders concerned about the homeless problem. Back in the '80s, students were actually letting them stay in fraternity basements until the school caught wind of what was happening. Students then staged a camp-in at Easton's circle, and Easton decided to establish the building at 536 Bushkill Street for shelter use. A meal center was first, in 1990, followed by the shelter in 1992.
Currently, there's a 50-bed shelter, 28 of which are set aside for women. The meal-center operates five days a week. There are also plans (and funds) in place for a renovation that will include apartments.
In 2016, Safe Harbor noted that it had a lot of repeat clients In response, the Arise program was started to address the root cause of whatever it was the caused a person to become homeless. Individuals are assigned case managers and a curriculum of 66 foundational life skills covering things like budgeting. good tenant skills and healthy relationships. They are also required to perform community service.
After doing this for 10 years, Stehling told County Council that individuals who complete the Arise program are 81% less likely to re-enter a shelter program.
Safe Harbor is a good program. The Allentown Rescue Mission does great work as well. A hand up, not a hand out should be the goal.
ReplyDeleteAllentown Rescue Mission is a big no-no from Bernie because clients might be asked to say grace before a meal. Starving is the price for church and state separation. That's progressive.
DeleteHow many individuals have completed the Arise program? And how many drop out or decline participation?
ReplyDeleteAllentown Rescue Mission does not ever ask clients to pray or say grace before meals. That's completely false. I've eaten many meals there and was never asked to pray.
ReplyDeleteHi, I've satyed at Safe Harbor for two separate weeks over the last few years and I have been struggling to get any state or county agency to hear me about the misconduct and mistreatment that goes on at that shelter. Jeff Poch is not fit to be director of a homeless shelter. He's not fit to interact with the homeless population at all, especially not anyone suffering from a mental health condition. I suppose there are worse shelters out there, but the way the staff at Safe Harbor conduct themselves is unacceptable.
ReplyDelete