Homelessness in the United States is a crisis of substantial proportion, which impacts families and young children. It is believed that school-age children in homeless families and homeless youth are the fastest growing population of unhoused people in America. The National Center on Family Homelessness indicates that “it’s virtually impossible to reclaim the life of a child who has spent his childhood without a home”.
In Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, the number of homeless individuals has increased by about 300% from a few years ago to about 680 unhoused residents. Currently, members of the Faith Community, under the leadership of Rev. Pastor Byron Craig, have stepped up, opened their doors, and created spaces for CODE Blue shelters.
Coalition4Justice Donation to Lansdale
Trinity Church Code Blue Shelter,
Lansdale, PA
Unfortunately, there are not enough shelters for every unhoused person looking for a warm place to sleep at night during this winter. The shelters also need support, volunteers, and resources for the homeless individuals they are providing overnight shelter for. Coalition4Justice Steering Committee staff are volunteering and have supported some of the shelters. The Coalition also has donated clothes and snacks to the Lansdale Trinity CODE BLUE shelter.
If you are interested in volunteering or would like to donate to the CODE BLUE shelters, below is information and the link to access the shelters for information on how to volunteer or what the shelter needs to provide for our unhoused residents:
1.LANSDALE TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH CODE BLUE SHELTER
at Luther Hall, 1000 W. Main Street., Lansdale, PA 19446
To inquire, email: lesliej0728@gmail.com, or visit: Lansdale Code Blue Shelter at Trinity Lutheran Church
2. NORRISTOWN HOSPITALITY CENTER/ST. JOHNS CHURCH, NORRISTOWN To inquire, email: director@hospitalitycenter.org,
or visit: Norristown Hospitality Center
3. BEACON OF HOPE, Pottstown
To inquire, email: TNiarhos@PottstownBeaconOfHope.org, call: (424) 625-1818, or visit:Beacon of Hope
L-R: Dr. Bernadine Ahonkhai (Coalition4Justice),
Leslie Johnson (Lansdale Trinity Church Code Blue
Center), and Mohana Padgaonkar (Coalition4Justice)
4. The CHURCH on the MALL, Plymouth Meeting
To inquire, visit: Church on the Mall
5. CAARSERA CODE BLUE SHELTER at the Church on the Mall @ Plymouth Meeting Mall, 500 W. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting Mall, Entrance #3
To inquire, email: CAARSEA@gmail.com.
Resources:
Coalition4Justice as well as other community organizations will meet with legislators from Bucks and Montgomery Counties and leaders who are championing affordable housing and behavioral health access policies on May 7th. If you would like to join us for our first day of advocacy in Harrisburg click here for more information.
Click here for a free template to write your Legislature a letter concerning the housing crisis in Montgomery County.
Dr. Bernadine Ahonkhai
Education & DEIJ Consultant
Founder/CEO, Coalition4Justice
905 N. Bethlehem Pike, #754, Spring House, PA 19477