RIVER HOUSE SHELTER

Alex, Amber, Kaitlyn, Nicole, Taylor

Overview

“Provides a safe place to sleep, filling supper and fortifying breakfast daily”

Provides emergency shelter to homeless men

Have 34 beds Offer 5 single rental

Things Learned They do not have their own website- only a Facebook page

Their title is River House Shelter (not River Street Shelter)

Presented in the Media Typically negative

“People drive by and yell insults at people staying at the shelter”

2 men arrested for trespassing and camping out on Roundy Street- The address they gave was River House Shelter

Positive media Endicotts’ Young Alumni

Association volunteered at the Shelter- painted and landscaped

Perceptions Some negative:

People yell insults passing the shelter

Homeless residents feel like they will be judged as criminals

Some positive: Community supports

shelter with donations and supply food

Endicott College provides volunteer services

Challenges Overcrowding- only 34 beds Financially struggle

Only receive about $50,000 from government

Have to raise the rest of their $200,000 budget from donations and grants

Temporarily closed (May 1, 2011) Suspended evening meals (April 1, 2011)

Questions

What do you do to keep a good reputation within the community?

What is done to help occupants within the shelter to better their life situation?

How many people do you extend services to? Where are most of your occupants from? What are the life situations of most of your

occupants? How was this organization started? Where does most of the organizations

funding come from?