Shelter trying to keep doors open

By Peggy Kreimer
Post staff reporter

Northern Kentucky's only emergency cold shelter will open for its second winter, but how long it stays open and what it provides depends on public support.

The tiny Covington church that opened its doors to homeless and stranded people in extreme temperatures last year needs money and a commercial kitchen sink. A major fund raising-dinner is scheduled for Dec. 11.

"We will open until our money runs out,'' said Rev. Joe Andino, who opened the shelter last Jan 10 and remained open almost constantly through March 9. The shelter, at Andino's Elohim Christian Center at 1206 Maryland Ave., opens whenever temperatures dip below 32 degrees. City housing code regulations allow up to 33 people to stay in the large first-floor community room, and the center was close to capacity every day.

"Emergency shelter in general in Northern Kentucky is not adequate,'' said Jennifer Shofner, director of the Housing and Homeless Coalition. When you add frigid temperatures to the mix, people, who could cope in warmer weather have few options, she said.

"The Cold Shelter provides a place for people who are homeless or whose utilities or electric goes off , or are stranded on the roadside. It's a place police can take people in emergency situations,'' Shofner said.  Northern Kentucky's only year-round shelters are Welcome House, which can handle 35 women and children and is usually full, and Fairhaven Rescue Mission for men, with 8 beds for the long-term substance abuse rehabilitation program and 16 overnight shelter beds.

Men can stay overnight for seven nights out of 60 and must pass a Breathalyzer test.

The Homeless and Housing Coalition helped Andino open the Emergency Cold Shelter last winter.

"The Cold Shelter provides a much-needed service,'' Shofner said.

The accommodations are not plush. Last winter guests received a place on the carpet and a blanket. It was staffed by volunteers last year, but Andino has set a fund-raising goal of $25,000 to cover general costs and provide a stipend salary to staff the center.

The church donates the space and cost of utilities, but it is a small church serving a largely low-income congregation.

Last winter, church members prepared hot soups and chili to serve to the refugees from the cold, but that can't happen this year without a health-code-required three-bowl sink.

Churches are allowed to serve pot-luck dinners to their own congregation, but once the public is invited, the health regulations kick in, said Rick Marksberry, senior health environmentalist for the Northern Kentucky Independent district Health Department.

"I think it's a wonderful thing that these churches want to help the homeless. That's putting your hands and feet on the Gospel,'' Markesberry said.

But the health department can't ignore health regulations.

"If they serve food and we hear about it, I'd have to give them a notice to cease operations.''

He said the church would be allowed to give out pre-packaged, individually wrapped snack foods. He said the health department can waive the permit fee, but the church kitchen must have a three-compartment sink with grease trap and double drain boards, and it must be installed by a licensed master plumber.

That sink is on Andino's wish list.

"When people come in from the cold, we want to be able to serve them something hot,'' he said.

Andino also plans to invite social service agencies and church groups to hold programs at the church for people staying at the shelter.

"We hope to start after Dec. 15, if everything goes well with the fund raiser,'' Andino said.

"We want to do the same thing we did last year, but we're going to have to have some staff,'' Andino said.

"What we're able to do depends on how much of the $25,000 we're able to raise.''

Sponsorship donation levels to support the cold shelter include: $1,848, to cover expenses for one week, $264 to cover one day; $150 to cover half a day and $10 to cover expenses for one individual for one day.

For information on the cold shelter, call Rev. Joe Andino, (859) 291-0600

IF YOU GO

•  The Share the Warmth Cold Shelter fund-raiser dinner and silent auction is 5:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 11 at Don Quixote restaurant, 32nd and Decoursey, Latonia. Tickets are $30 and include a Mexican buffet and beverages.

•  Sponsors include Toyota Motor Manufacturing NA and Ashland.

•  For information, call Lisa Raterman, (859) 578-9720.