After record need, Middletown homeless group expects even busier winter

With less than two months before its doors open, Serving the Homeless with Alternative Lodging Of Middletown (SHALOM) still needs host churches to house and feed the less fortunate during the 2019-2020 season.

SHALOM will begin its 18th season Dec. 1, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and conclude March 7, 2020, said Bill Fugate, one of the coordinators.

Fugate said he expects this season to be “busier” than last year when a record number of clients was set. SHALOM served 129 homeless clients last year, breaking the previous year’s record by 10, he said.

He drives around downtown Middletown and sees “many new faces,” he said. That’s an indication more people will be needing SHALOM services this year. He’s not sure what’s bringing more homeless to Middletown.

While SHALOM isn’t open during the summer, Fugate said it provides services to the homeless, including identification cards, employment assistance, benefit paperwork and prescription medications.

Churches interested in hosting the homeless provide a dinner and breakfast within their church facilities and at least one chaperone for one week, though Fugate said it’s best to have two chaperones, one man and one woman. SHALOM provides the transportation and the bedding for the homeless.

The homeless are picked up every day at the SHALOM office at First United Methodist Church, 120 S. Broad St. Daily intakes are performed from 4-5 p.m. and the homeless are transported from the church every day at 5 p.m., then are returned to the office at 8 a.m. the next day.

SHALOM will have its initial organization meeting at 2:01 p.m. Oct. 9 at First United Methodist Church, 120 S. Broad St., Door No. 8. Those churches interested in participating in the SHALOM program should have a representative at the meeting.

For more information, email shalomhomeless@gmail.com.


Here is a tentative schedule for the 2019-2020 season at Serving the Homeless with Alternative Lodging Of Middletown (SHALOM):

Dec. 1-7: Open

Dec. 8-14: Open

Dec. 15-21: Open

Dec. 22-28: Open

Dec. 29-Jan. 4: Christ United Methodist/First Christian

Jan. 5-11: Holy Family Parish

Jan. 12-18: Holy Family Parish

Jan. 19-25: First Baptist

Jan. 26-Feb. 1: First Presbyterian/Christian Enterprise Baptist

Feb. 2-8: Open

Feb. 9-15: Open

Feb. 16-22: Stratford Heights Church of God

Feb. 23-29: Open

March 1-7: First United Methodist

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