Manassas Hope
For the Homeless

In the winter of 2011, Christians from several area churches joined forces on a day when we learned that there was no contingency plan or location for the unsheltered homeless to go in severe weather; when the first polar vortex hit, God’s grace and a lot of hard work brought resources and people together to meet that need.

After that first event, our activities responded to extreme weather conditions when the temperatures dropped below 20 degrees fahrenheit for the rest of the winter.   Many clients we serve are especially vulnerable to dangerously cold weather.  There were no government-sponsored shelters at this end of Prince William County, so we opened ”hypothermia shelters” with volunteers from these churches.  Grace United Methodist was the location of the first shelter we opened.  Since that first time, the location moved to Manassas Baptist Church, which graciously opened part of its church for this need.  They also have showers, a washing machine, and a dryer at this site, the old Marstellar Middle School.

Donations will be even more needed now due to the chances people without housing will be in the weather continuously through this season. A list of needs is below; if you are thinking about donations please check with Jay Sharpe at 571-277-0728 or jay@mbcnova.org; he will let you know exactly what we need.

NEW: Men’s Socks and Travel-size shampoos. All donation items are relevant; although we may not be in the season, donations are collected all the time and will be distributed at the appropriate times. Gloves; warm winter clothes; thermal underwear; bug repellents; Water; Socks; Men’s and Women’s underwear; Batteries; triple A, double A, and D’s.

Volunteers are needed to help in the shelter; these are done in shifts of at least four people. All volunteers must go through a short training session.  Please check out the “Events” tab for volunteer training information.

Typical time slots are as follows:
6:30 pm – 10:00 pm
10:00 pm -6:30 pm

The shelter uses Sign Up Genius to coordinate volunteer slots. Once you are added to the volunteer group, you will be invited to volunteer via this tool. We appreciate your sacrifice and your service to help our homeless friends. Jay Sharpe coordinates shelter volunteers and activities.

Volunteers that wish to serve as part of the Food Service (usually dinner and breakfast) would include meal donations, snacks, meal preparation, serving and cleanup activities. Once meals are delivered at the shelter, the food volunteers are free to leave as directed by the food services coordinator and are not held to do shift times like shelter volunteers.
Dinners are served shortly after our guests are registered and set up for the night.  Breakfast is typically in a pre-made format that can be distributed by shelter volunteer personnel in the morning.

• A coordinated entry system provides transportation/ there is a bus stop in front of the church, and sometimes the police will drop off guests. Most will walk to the shelter.
• NO alcohol/drugs/weapons and or threats will be tolerated. If a person is suspected of consuming alcohol and/or drugs, they may be subject to search and/or asked to leave the shelter.
• Weapons of any kind must be checked in with the team leader and returned upon leaving the shelter.
• Respect one another, their property, and their space. No foul language or loud behavior.
• Smoking will be done outside the main shelter entrance, where there is a container for cigarette butts. Do not go beyond the end of the building. Once in the shelter, no one will leave the shelter without being accompanied by a volunteer.
• No visitors are allowed who are not spending the night.
• If you leave the premises, you will not be allowed to return that same night.
• Respect the shelter. This is a service to you and for you; all volunteers are here to help you BE NICE!!!!
• Do not argue with the volunteers; respect them. They are here to help you.

Breaking the rules may result in asking you to leave the shelter or having the police remove you.

A sign for the shelter will be placed outside the front door of the building to guide people from the back of the building to the shelter entrance. Clients are not allowed beyond the steel hallway gate. Leaving or wandering outside designated areas can result in expulsion from the shelter.