Anderson church now searching for new place to house homeless
Anderson Church Ceases Shelter Services Due to Permits and Community Concerns
A local church in Anderson, Indiana, has been serving as a temporary shelter for the homeless since February, but has recently made the difficult decision to cease the service. The church, Restoration Church, had been providing a warm and welcoming space to those in need, with volunteers like Jessica Mccullough stating, "These people last night cried because they didn’t know where they were going. Last night, I cried because I couldn’t do anything to help."
The church’s Homeless Outreach Coordinator, Richard Moghadam, echoed this sentiment, saying, "Every human has the right to sleep at night without the fear of being robbed or raped, and you should have the ability and the right to have something in your belly on a daily basis." The church’s Pastor, Mike Weller, also expressed his concern, adding, "I didn’t feel like I was fighting the world alone for a change, and I felt like everybody here had the same kind of heart as I do."
Despite their efforts, the church faced a setback when it became clear that they did not have the proper permits to operate as a shelter, and some neighbors began to express concerns. According to the lead administrator of the church building, this made it impossible to continue providing overnight shelter services.
However, the church will continue to offer meals and snacks to those in need, and is exploring alternative properties in Anderson that could be used as a shelter. Weller stated, "They’re good people. They just need help."
In related news, the city of Anderson has allocated $1,150,000 from American Rescue Funds to address the issue of homelessness. The funds will be used to support a two-year program providing outreach, supportive services, and housing assistance to those in need. As part of this program, the city is partnering with local non-profits and hiring additional staff to work with the homeless population.
By Rachael Wilkerson,
1 days ago
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