Inter-Faith Shelter Keeps Out the Cold

The shelter has 42 beds for men and women and 14 for women and children, said Executive Director Rosetta Wash.

Priority always is given to Orange County residents, women and children and people with medical emergencies, but the shelter receives referrals from all over, she said. The average length of stay is 1 1/2 months.

All guests may use the shelter's services but must be older than 18 or accompanied by a guardian to stay the night, Wash said. During inclement weather, the shelter opens up its floors to give a bed to as many people as possible.

"We certainly don't turn anyone away in weather like this," Wash said. "There's room for everyone."

In the winter, more guests need shelter from the cold and warmer clothing, Wash said. "We see that and we do what we can do," she said. "But we rely on the community a lot."

But when weather prevents community volunteers from showing up, the kitchen manager asks guests to cook, said Denise Clark, a guest at the shelter.

Bill Harris is one such guest who volunteers his services. He smiled as he peeled the foil back from a steaming pan of steaks Wednesday. "As soon as I open the door, they're going to get a whiff of these onions and peppers."

Wednesday was Harris' fifth time cooking at the shelter, which serves three meals a day, seven days a week. "Whenever some groups don't show up, they call us in," he said. "Right now we're back by popular demand. "

Clark, who helped serve food Wednesday, came to the shelter over the Thanksgiving weekend to escape the cold.

"I was coming in because it got colder," she said. "If I would've stayed out there, I would've frozen to death. I'd advise anybody who needs help to come."

Clark had been living at her grandmother's house after having a nervous breakdown in April. The shelter provided Clark with necessities: food, a coat, a hat, a towel, a washcloth and a bed with warm blankets.

Clark also takes advantage of the shelter's free medical and psychological services. Every Monday at 7 p.m., she has the opportunity to receive job-skills training.

"There's always people at the shelter who need a helping hand," she said. "People look down on the shelter. Nobody's perfect. Everybody needs help."

On a typical day, Clark collects job applications until noon, but she didn't go out Wednesday because of inclement conditions. She said she expects to find a job soon, but some guests expect a longer wait, such as her friend Dannett, who did not give her last name and moved here from California. "I have felonies on my record," she said. "The majority of us here have felonies, so it's hard to find a job."

But she said the shelter helps guests deal with medical situations and substance abuse, as well as finding employment. "(The shelter) is a place to get yourself together," Dannett said. "Stop and shop. Shop for a job. Shop for an apartment. Shop yourself out of here."

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