Humility of Mary shelter opens doors

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By Linda Cook | Sunday, October 12, 2008 11:11 PM CDT | () comments

Men cheered as they watched a football game on television while sitting on no-frills chairs at tables. A couple of them glanced up at the set while they played chess in small community room.

It might have been a scene in any diner or a small hotel. But this was Sunday at the Humility of Mary Shelter, 1016 W. 5th St., Davenport. And the guests were there because they have no other place to go.

Genesis Health System hosted a housewarming and open house for the shelter from 2 to 4 p.m. Visitors brought donations of items, and many stayed for tours of the shelter.

Humility of Mary Shelter Inc. took over the facility formerly run by the debt-ridden John Lewis Community Services, which ceased operations Sept. 21.

Now Humility of Mary Shelter Inc. hopes the community will continue to support the services provided by the shelter.

The open house was held “primarily to let the community see what is going on,” said Sister Mary Ann Vogel of the Sisters of Humility. “We said the only way we could do this (run the shelter) is to have the support of the community.” The facility cares for the “really vulnerable of the community,” she said.

At the moment, 70 people are staying in the building, which provides a place for both women and men older than 18. For military veterans, the shelter has a few single-occupancy rooms.

“Part of the Sisters of Humility mission is to work with the marginalized,” Vogel said. “That’s our call. Feed the hungry. Shelter the homeless. It’s not just a call to the Sisters, it’s a call to us all.”

Vogel said the group wanted to make a “seamless transition” from the John Lewis management, “and I think we accomplished that.”

The facility operates as a day shelter from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., “a place for people to come off the streets and come in for a cup of coffee,” she said.

Julie Williams, co-director of the shelter with Sandy Walters, gave tours to visitors Sunday afternoon. “The women’s shelter is overflowing,” she said, pointing out the floor mats where several women sleep. “There aren’t enough beds.”

Cindi Gramenz, shelter supervisor, said guests arrive from various locations and through a variety of means. “We get a lot of people who just come off the streets, along with law enforcement, word of mouth, and referrals from other non-profits,” she said.

Gramenz said it’s difficult to describe the average shelter guest. “A lot of times, people have an impression of what the homeless population is, but that is not accurate,” she said. “It’s a very diverse population.”

For example, some people might not be able to pay their rent and end up at the shelter because they have been evicted. “A lot of folks just have nowhere to call home. And many of the women are running from abusive situations,” Gramenz said.

With the economic downturn that’s affecting the entire nation, “I think we’ll definitely see more people coming in. We’re seeing a lot of new faces — a lot of young faces,” she said.

“The primary thing,” Gramenz continued, “is you have to take care of those basic needs first. You meet the basic needs, then (the guests) have the opportunity to meet with a service coordinator and work on obtaining stable housing, employment and budgeting.”

The typical stay is 30 days, she said, but “if they’re working hard, we’ll give them the time that they need.”

The shelter has plenty of success stories. “We certainly see a lot of people who move into their own apartments, are financially secure, and with a job,” she said. “They’re not homeless forever.”

No one is turned away — not even those with alcohol and drug-abuse problems — unless they cause disruptions. “We don’t see a lot of problems like that,” Gramenz said.

In addition to ongoing financial donations, the shelter needs “a lot of things people take for granted” such as towels, toilet paper, blankets, underwear, socks, and small plastic totes for storage and carrying of personal items, Gramenz said.

“People come here with the clothes on their backs,” she said.

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.