12/20/2020
A statement from the Macomb County Warming Center’s Board of Directors:
For nearly 20 years, the Warming Center has worked to serve the neediest of the community, offering supportive services on an ongoing basis and shelter from the cold and warm meals during the winter months. We have been able to offer this assistance thanks to our generous donors, community allies, and our member churches. Things haven’t always been easy, but we have done our best to fill this essential need in the Macomb County area.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and its related challenges have made that more difficult than ever in 2020. We have spent the vast majority of this year working with state and local leaders to see whether our Shelter would be feasible under the current circumstances. Our top priority is the safety of our guests, volunteers, and staff.
Because of the risks associated with COVID-19 and based on the recommendations of state and local health experts along with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is with deep regret that we report we will not be operating our Shelter in the traditional manner for the 2020-’21 season.
While the Board, staff, and volunteers have worked diligently to investigate every possible solution to these challenges, we simply do not have the resources to host our Shelter without putting our member churches, staff, and guests at risk. This is not a decision we took lightly, but it was the correct one. We will review reopening our Shelter using our traditional model next year, basing our decisions on the health situation at the time.
However, there is some good news.
To start, our daily services at The Ray of Hope Day Center will remain ongoing. The Center offers referrals and resources for medical services, job searches, a mailing address for the receipt of mail, assistance in obtaining identification documentation and other support. Like most offices, our Ray of Hope Center is available for in person assistance with a phone call--to ensure proper social distancing. Someone will be available to help. For those in need or interested in these services, please contact us at 586-329-4046. All of our regular donations will go toward providing these valuable services.
Additionally, a grant was recently made available through Macomb County to assist in responding to the needs of the homeless during COVID. This was accomplished through The Macomb County Warming Center and MCREST (“Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team”) forming an alliance, wherein MCREST would provide their expertise in housing guests in a stationary location, as well as distributing meals to the guests. While we are not partners or contractually involved with this program, we have provided some recommendations and have encouraged all of our guests and those in need to contact MCREST at 586-415-5101 regarding this program. We are also working to provide additional support for the program through volunteers and our member churches in the providing of daily breakfasts and lunches to the guests.
Most importantly, we encourage all of our guests (and anyone in contact with our guests) to pursue one of the options above in the coming weeks. We are firmly committed to helping the neediest of our community this year and beyond. We hope and pray for everyone in need this year, especially as we grow nearer to the Christmas season. God bless you all.
