August 25, 2006 --- Houston, Texas --- Responding to a huge influx of new requests for emergency shelter for homeless people, Open Door Mission has just received permission from the Houston Fire Department to provide temporary shelter for 30 additional men at its Harrisburg Avenue location.
The Mission has received at least 10 additional requests a day for shelter because of Mayor White’s new initiative to deal with panhandlers and homeless people, particularly in downtown areas.
“The word we hear on the street is that police presence has been increasing lately,” said Curtis Lovett, Director of Programs at the Mission. “This is especially true at the locations where homeless people gather. Also, city no-trespassing signs are going up all around town. All this activity makes homeless people anxious, and when they get anxious, they start looking for a place to stay. We are offering to help where we can.”
Open Door Mission is well positioned to offer emergency shelter. The Mission serves over 200,000 meals a year in its dining room and serves almost 2400 homeless, destitute, and addicted men a year in its various programs. In 2005, the Mission offered emergency shelter to thousands of Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees. Among other efforts, the Mission distributed over 100,000 pounds of food and 20,000 articles of clothing.
Open Door Mission, one of Houston’s largest emergency and rehabilitation shelters, is located in Houston’s East End at 5803 Harrisburg. Individual donors, corporations, churches, and private foundations form the backbone of the Mission’s support; it does not accept funding from local, state, or federal government agencies, nor does it accept funds from the United Way.
For more information and to donate go to www.opendoorhouston.org, or call 713-921-7520. For 8 practical ways to help homeless people see the website for the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions at www.agrm.org/how-help.html.
