Help for people facing winter conditions

MOSES LAKE — The closing of the warming shelter in Moses Lake has meant some of the responsibility for helping homeless people and others in need has been shifted to other organizations. With two to three months of cold weather still to go, the operators of Serve Moses Lake are looking for donations of specific items to help people during cold weather.

“Actual, literal needs right now – we need tents, we need gloves, hand warmers and foot warmers,” said Serve Moses Lake director Brandon LaBonte. Serve Moses Lake already has received many donations of shoes, socks and sleeping bags, he said. But a person living in wintry, inclement conditions can use a tent or other covering.

One of SML’s goals is to get people who don’t have a roof over their heads into housing. And people who are making the transition into housing need something to put in their new quarters. “We need furniture.” The organization is looking for used furniture in good condition, from tables and dressers to couches and chairs. “These are critical.” Furniture matters to people who are getting back into housing, LaBonte said.

The organization has access to some temporary housing vouchers. Those are reserved for people facing a documented medical emergency or cases where children are living without shelter. There are organizations and agencies that can help people with emergency housing, but many of them have requirements people must meet before they qualify.

Serve Moses Lake has an option for people who want immediate warm shelter. There are places that provide that, but not in Moses Lake, so people who want immediate shelter must travel out of town. Serve Moses Lake offers help with bus tickets to places with warm shelter, but not many people have taken advantage of the offer, LaBonte said. “It’s been a fraction of the people who’ve been asking (for tickets).”

LaBonte suggested that people who encounter a homeless person should give them food or information about where they can get help, rather than money. “We have to stop giving them cash and coin.” Many people who are homeless don’t spend that cash wisely, he said. “Their chaos in their life is going to continue.”

The ultimate goal at SML is to help people make their way from the crisis, into a place to live and eventually back to a more secure life. But Serve Moses Lake’s efforts can only be a supplement, LaBonte said – the individuals must decide for themselves where and how they want to move on from the time of crisis. “We are doing with rather than doing for.”

The Serve Moses Lake office is at 422 W. Third Ave.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].