Homeless Shelters Get Busy in a Hurry When Winter Weather Hits
By Nancy Needham - December 17, 2009
With cold winter rains pounding Thousand Oaks, forcing homeless people to find a place with a roof, Lutheran Social Services’ winter homeless shelter opened just in time.
About 20 people checked in by the 8 p.m. deadline to sleep over the first night, Dec. 1.
“Some of our old people haven’t shown up. I hope they’re okay,” winter shelter manager Diana Ortuno said.
She expects to see more people as the month continues.
“They get their disability checks at the first of the month. As money runs out, they come to us for help,” she said.
The shelter also provides a hot meal each night. About 40 churches, synagogues, clubs and individuals take turns preparing the meals. Most have done it for years. In the past they usually expected no more than 40 for dinner, but lately between 50 and 100 have been showing up for the free food, Ortuno said.
“We encourage people to come to the dinner so they can use the money they save on groceries to pay their rent and avoid becoming homeless,” Ortuno said.
Even when more than expected come, everyone eats.“We open up cans of soup or order pizzas. Everyone gets fed,” Ortuno said.
Dinner check-in is at 5:45 p.m. That program is year-round. The overnight winter shelter runs from December through March.
Those hoping to stay overnight need to have proof of identity and a TB test record as required by law.
The homeless can use donations of backpacks, hamburger gift coupons, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, deodorant, shampoo, soap and razors. These items can be dropped off at Lutheran Social Services, 80 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.
