Serving the Homeless

WHO shelter is under way

For the fifth year, St. Andrew will be one of two sites for the Winter Hospitality Overflow program, which provides homeless women, children and families a safe, warm place to sleep during the coldest part of the year.

The WHO program is a major component of Clark County’s emergency shelter system. This season it runs from Nov. 1 through March 31. Last year approximately 675 individuals were served, nearly 500 at St. Andrew.

We hope to be able to be open all day Christmas Day and need volunteers to help coordinate that effort. Volunteer information: Kathy Koren at 896-2175, or kkoren2@comcast.net.

A number of other ways volunteers can help:

  • Closet organizer: Monthly review of bedding and toiletries closets. Organize and note needs for WHO task force.
  • Bedding coordinator: Put sheets, pillowcases and blankets in bags on Saturday or Sunday afternoon. This can be a one-time or recurring opportunity.
  • Laundry coordinator: Pick up laundry on Friday or Monday evenings and deliver it to
  • St. Andrew. A pickup or large SUV will be necessary. This can be a one-time or recurring opportunity.

WHO needs:

  • Standard-size pillows and plastic covers;will go to Share’s Inn at the Orchards
  • Hotel-size shampoo
  • Disposable razors, toothbrushes, combs
  • Feminine hygiene products, baby diapers, adult “Depends”, ear plugs
  • Travel-size toothpaste and deodorant
  • Large, clear, 10-mil. lawn bags
  • Rubber/latex/plastic gloves
  • Hats, underwear, gloves and socks

We are unable to take any other clothing donations. Donations will be collected in the narthex on Sundays. Because of storage constraints, ask a task force member before donating toys or household items.

WHO program DON'Ts

  • Don’t give guests money
  • Don’t give guests rides
  • Don’t allow guests to use phones
  • Don’t invite guests to your home
  • If you establish a relationship with any of the WHO guests and you are considering any of the above, please first check with a Share case manager to be sure any additional help you give works in the guest’s behavioral plan.

WHO program DOs

  • Do be welcoming when you see guests in the building during the evenings and on Sunday mornings
  • Do wear your nametags
  • Do make a donation marked WHO Food or donate directly to the WHO program online at www.whoprogram.org.
  • Do know that WHO guests appreciate bus passes, which can be left in the church office marked WHO staff. C-Tran pass information includes:
  • C-Tran’s Go Anywhere Day Pass offers unlimited travel on all C-Tran and TriMet services and includes the Portland Streetcar. The $6 pass is valid for one full-service day and can be purchased from any coach operator or passenger service office.
  • C-Tran monthly and day passes may be purchased at these outlets:
    Vancouver Mall—C-Tran passenger service office (North lot)
    Downtown Vancouver—Seventh Street passenger service office
    Fisher's Landing Transit Center—Passenger service office
    C-Tran Administration Office—2425 N.E. 65th Ave. (696-4494)
    Clark College Bookstore—1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd. (992-2590
    All Clark County Fred Meyer locations (full-fare passes only)
    TriMet customer service office—Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland (503-238-7433)

WHO steps up when the
weather turns cold.

The Pharisee asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answers with the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is with that instruction that St. Andrew has joined other faith communities to provide the overflow shelter for women and families in Clark County.

2007/2008 numbers tell homeless story

Five months’ worth of numbers tell a compelling story of faith plus compassion resulting in love in action for the Winter Hospitality Overflow program, which operated from Nov. 1 to March 31 -- two extra nights because of late-season cold weather.

Total bed nights at the WHO locations:8,005 (+4%)

Total persons served: 675 (+18%)

  • St. Andrew
    Total persons: 467 (+35%)
    Children: 155 (+68%)
    Bed nights: 4,334 (+6%)

  • St. Paul
    Single men: 208 (-12%)
    Occupancy: 102%
    Bed nights: 3,671 (+2%)

Volunteer efforts:

  • 39 faith-based and community organizations participating
  • 1,470 volunteers on record
  • 13,100 volunteer hours recorded
  • 9 average hours served per volunteer
  • $236,816 estimated value of volunteer hours according to federal guidelines for non- profits

Dollar donations: $40,413

Some stunning statistics for St. Andrew’s WHO:

  • Unduplicated guests: 38% increase over last year
  • Children: 70% increase over last year
  • Guests through March 17: 45% new
  • In February: 146 unduplicated people were turned away from women/family shelter
    Single women: 37
    Couples: 24
    Families: 15

Your prayers, financial support and volunteer time make this overflow program one of the most effective social ministries in the country. WHO has become a significant part of our reputation in the community thanks to your support.

Additional information can be found at http://www.whoprogram.org

Family WHO operating procedure manual.

The Winter Housing Overflow began at St. Andrew in November 2004. WHO is a partnership of the Council for the Homeless, SHARE and the faith-community. It provides temporary shelter for the homeless in our community.

St. Andrew generously allows its facility to be used for this much-needed community service to assist women, families and couples from November through March.

St. Paul Lutheran Church provides the facility for single men.

WHO does much more than provide a warm place to stay. It provides evening snacks, a cold breakfast and a brown bag lunch for our guests. This is all done through the generous volunteers from the interfaith community of Southwest Washington who donate food and provide the volunteer staff. I always feel the hand of God at work when I think of all the volunteers that assist with WHO throughout the winter. It takes a minimum of forty-nine volunteers a week and will run for twenty-two weeks. That’s 1,078 volunteers!

We also are blessed with trained SHARE staff who provide intake and resource assistance for our guests. Please pray for this caring, hard-working team as they continue to connect the newly-homeless with resources and jobs.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kathy Koren, WHO task force coordinator.

Other WHO Task Force members include:

Beth Oliver, coordinator
Susan Lemos, coordinator-in-training (St. John the Evangelist)
Kathy Hauge, supplies coordinator
Andrea Buckmann, food coordinator
Jan Davis, food coordinator
Bruce Moret
Joy Gault, volunteer coordinator for faith communities (Mill Plain United Methodist)