Wareham Churches Open Doors to Homeless for 12 Weeks

WAREHAM – Two Wareham churches will be opening up their doors for the homeless for 12 weeks starting on Sunday.

The Wareham Area Clergy Association is sponsoring the eighth annual “Nights of Hospitality” program at Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene and St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church.

Homeless men and women in temporary need of lodging can stay at both locations and receive a hot dinner, bedding for the night and a hot breakfast until March 19.

“We’ve got all 12 weeks lined up with staff, meals and locations and we’re looking forward to being able to provide a warm place for people to stay in and a couple warm meals,” said Pastor David Shaw of the Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene.

Up to four churches and organizations are helping with staffing and meals, which include the Elks Club in Wareham providing two dinners each week and the Eagles Club in Buzzards Bay putting together a breakfast every Sunday.

Members of the Evergreen House for men have volunteered their time to help with overnight supervision and up to 10 people not affiliated with any church or organization, are helping to staff during the 12 weeks.

Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene saw an average of seven people per night during the program, with at least 49 people during one night last year.

Nearly half of those 49 people stayed most of the nights at the church during the 12 weeks, which Pastor Shaw said has been increasing the last few years.

“If it’s warm, sometimes they’ll stay out on their own, if they’ve got a friend, they’ll let them do some couch-surfing, but we usually see them here and if it weren’t here, they’d be out on the streets,” said Shaw.

Shaw added that organizations in Falmouth and Martha’s Vineyard have reached out to him for advice in starting similar programs.

By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter