Come in from the cold: Men’s homeless shelter opens

Shelters prohibit registered sex offenders access even in sub-zero temperatures. Lawmakers nationally fail to resolve this issue.. We urge folks to contact your local lawmakers and shelters, and ask them to resolve this issue before another freezes to death.

12-8-2009 Iowa:

OTTUMWA — One Christian ministry volunteer said it broke her heart to serve a meal but then have to turn freezing men out into the cold with little more than a blanket and an “I’m sorry.” That scene could change starting Monday.

The Upper Room Men’s Homeless Shelter is scheduled to open then, with up to 20 beds available for men who have nowhere else to stay.

The shelter is downtown on East Main Street, above the Ottumwa Community Outreach Ministry.

“It’s been four years in the [making],” said Yvonne Baldwin, the new director. “We got our certificate of occupancy on Tuesday.”

When the inspector handed Baldwin the “yellow piece of paper” which said the men’s shelter was fit for human habitation, Baldwin said she felt like dancing.

“It’s about time,” laughed board member Ernie Davidson, who also oversees the mission’s kitchen serving those in need. “I’ve been looking forward to this for about four-and-a-half years.”

The idea started when former director Pauline Spurgeon was at the helm. Davidson said he’s spoken to her by phone about the Monday opening of the men’s shelter.

“She’s praying for it,” Davidson said.

The shelter has limitations on how long a client may stay, and they are unable to house sex offenders or anyone under 18. But they should be able to help a lot of people who need it, Baldwin said. Ottumwa has places that can assist a woman who is homeless, but this will be the town’s only shelter for men.

“It’s been a hard road, even financially, but we’ve been blessed because [the money is] there,” Davidson said.

At those times the money ran out, they had to ask for people to pound nails for free.

“We’ve had over 500 volunteers,” said Marty Schmidt, another board member.

Even with regulatory and funding setbacks, they had hoped construction would take about nine months, said Schmidt.

“It took [over] two years — I guess we were off by a ‘few’ months.”

And while one hard part is done, the next step could prove difficult — or at the very least, educational. ..Source.. MARK NEWMAN Courier staff writer