HelpLine of Delaware and Morrow Counties, Inc. (HelpLine) has been awarded a grant for supplemental emergency shelter grant to provide a safety net for women and families in severe cold weather from the Delaware County Foundation (www.delawarecf.org/).
Earlier this year Zion United Church of Christ, in partnership with United Way of Delaware County and several other community groups, announced it would be used as a Warming Center in severe cold weather but only serves men at this time. The Delaware County Foundation recognized the need identified through HelpLine to also have a safety net to assist women and families without shelter who are unable to access other resources and took action by funding a grant to ensure the need is met.
“We are honored to receive the grant from the foundation. In the severe cold weather we are currently experiencing, existing resources for women and families needing shelter can become overwhelmed. Now we have added capacity to further ensure people have a safe, warm place to sleep at night.” says Susan Hanson, HelpLine Executive Director. “HelpLine is very grateful to the Delaware County Foundation for this much needed grant.”
“What is happening in Delaware to assist men, women and families this winter is a good example of the community coming together in many ways to help those in need of shelter,” says Marlene Casini, President of the Delaware County Foundation. “We appreciate HelpLine’s leadership in taking care of this vulnerable segment of our community.”
As the local 211/Information & Referral center along with having many partnerships with other agencies, people often refer those in need to HelpLine to find resources either through the 24/7 hotline (740.369.3316 or 419.947.2520 or 1.800.684.2324) or searching the online database with over 3,000 resources (www.helplinedelmor.org/directory). This funding is not meant to take the place of shelter programs which can provide homeless individuals and families with tools beyond shelter to help them get back on their feet. This is always the goal. However, warming centers/warm shelter is meant to be an added safety net to individuals at risk due to severe cold. For more information, contact HelpLine at 740.369.3316 or email helpline@helplinedelmor.org.
