Severe winter weather made it touch and go at the emergency homeless shelter otherwise known as the City of Manteca Warming Center earlier this week.
Strong wind gusts and heavy rains on Tuesday night attracted other homeless besides the regulars who have been bedding down inside the temporary tent structure on the former Qualex site at 555 Industrial Drive.
Rudy Valencia, who is the Director of Operation for the Turlock Gospel Mission – this restoration program received the green light from the City in Decmeber ago to operate the shelter at a cost of $225,000 – along with Hector Torres, who is also from part of Gospel Mission staff, indicated that a total of 38 at the homeless shelter.
Included were 24 inside the Warming Center – the indoor sleeping capacity is 50 – along with 14 others seeking refuge via safe parking within the 57,000-square-foot site. An emergency announcement was posted that day on the City website that drop-ins were being accepted throughout the night for those who had nowhere to go.
Typically there is a cut-off time each night for admission.
“We got a few from the tent city near the freeway,” said Valencia, who grew up in Manteca.
The night of the storm drew concerns from all involved in the emergency shelter, from local police to the Warming Center staff.
Valencia pointed out that one side of the large tent-like structure was secured by sandbags – even at that, parts of the heavy-duty canvas wall still had to be tied down from the strong winds. “We even backed up one of the vehicles (as reinforcement) along that side,” he added.
A couple of dozen homeless occupy the Warming Center on most days. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff is required to regularly screen everyone and anyone entering the premises per CDC safety protocol. A check-point at the entrance gate is in the process of being established. Absolutely no drugs or alcohol are permitted.
From there, it’s been concerted effort involving local ministries, non-profit groups, businesses, community members, and even those occupying the Warming Center.
“Some of the in-tent residents purchased pizzas or condiments with their EBT cards,” said Valencia.
Crossroads Grace Community Church comes in with its Celebrate Recovery program for those recovering from addiction of drugs and alcohol.
Hope Ministries, Love INC, Northgate Community Church, Calvary Community Church, and Second Harvest Food Bank, to name a few, also chipped in to help the homeless during these past few months, according to Valencia.
The Warming Center is where those in need can get three meals a day along with coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
Food tables are also available along with free wi-fi, an emergency on-site phone, and a P.O. box for mail service.
Local businesses such as Spin Cycle help in providing laundry service.
Some of the groups and residents have volunteered their time to assist in furnishing clothes as well as the three-days-a-week – soon to be four – on-site shower services for the homeless.
Valencia noted that Warming Center is often at comfortable indoor temperatures.
His hopes and prayers are for those to move on and prosper.
“This place has been a platform for people who want to transition – to be productive and not a burden,” said Valencia.
The Warming Center offers the resources to do just that.
Torres shared some of the numbers for early success stories.
“We had 16 out of 24 (homeless) who were work reinstated. Another 15 established new IDs and one went back to work for Amazon. It’s good to see some reconnecting to their families,” he said.
The Warming Center will be in operation through March 31.
