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Homeless families count on Safe Nights program
Churches give shelter, LifeStyles coordinates
Friday, Dec. 18, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo
The Pickin' Pals will be one of several gospel entertainers to perform Jan. 1 in a concert to benefit the Safe Nights program.
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Temperatures will soon dip below the freezing point at night and chilly rain and frigid snow will be falling — a horrific situation for homeless families as they scramble to find shelter from the cold in vehicles, abandoned buildings and at makeshift camps in wooded areas scattered throughout the county.
It's a scenario the volunteers with LifeStyles of Maryland in La Plata have tried to combat since 2005 when the Safe Nights program was established to offer shelter to the hundreds of homeless folks in the county at local churches from Nov. 1 to March 31, said Sandy Washington, LifeStyles executive director.
The battle to house homeless people — who often have children — during the bitter winter months is getting harder and harder to win as the economy continues to worsen, Washington said. Foreclosures and the loss of jobs are forcing more and more people out of their homes, she said.
"We're seeing more folks who are homeless," she said. "Some, unfortunately, aren't able to participate in the Safe Nights program because they work in the evening and people have to sign in by 7 p.m. to take advantage of it. … We have to stick to the rules. If we have people coming in at all hours of the night the program just wouldn't work."
Things might be looking up for the group as both the U.S. House and Senate earlier this month passed a $60,000 earmark for the program.
"I'm pleased that we're going to receive this funding," Washington said. "With this money we'll be able to continue to move forward with the program."
This year 18 local churches are providing space to house the homeless at night, Washington said, adding that one church takes on the task for a week at a time. About 40 churches in the county provide some service to the program, including providing hot meals, she said.
It is particularly challenging for churches to provide space during the Christmas holidays because many of them sponsor special events during that time, Washington said, adding that LifeStyles is always looking for more churches to participate in the program.
Last year, the program provided night shelter for more than 200 people, Washington said. Some people don't participate in the program because the situation is just too intimidating, she said.
"In many cases, people choose not to take this option," she said. "It's just too challenging for them to be in a roomful of folks they don't know. It's tough. They realize that this is where they are in life; this is what their lives have become."
Pride should not stop people from asking for help, Washington said.
"The longer people are out there the more challenging it is to provide services," she said. "It's OK to ask for help. It could be any of us at any time. This is what we're here for."
The community can support the program in a variety of ways, Washington said, including donating fast-food restaurant gift cards and gasoline cards.
Donations of money are most needed but are hard to come by because the recession is hitting everyone hard in the wallet, Washington said.
LifeStyles' annual Walk to End Homelessness in La Plata held Nov. 21 raised $11,000 — a lot less than in the past, Washington said, adding that last year's walk raised about $17,000.
"It's tough," she said. "Every dime that we receive is appreciated. It's just so frustrating because we see that the needs are so great and the money is just not coming in."
Butch, Jeff and Rick Hunt, the owners of Hunt Ford in La Plata who are gospel music performers, are going to try to help raise some funds for the program by teaming up with Jimmy Passwaters, the Bay City Quartet, J.D. Davenport and The Pickin' Pals to hold a concert to benefit the Safe Nights program Jan. 1 at Fellowship Church in White Plains. The concert is free but Butch Hunt said love offerings will be accepted and the money will be donated to the program.
A similar concert was held in March and the benefit raised $2,500 for the program, Hunt said, adding he didn't know about Safe Nights until his mom told him about it after reading an article in the newspaper about it last year.
"She brought it to my attention and I thought it would be a good thing for us to get involved in trying to help the homeless," he said. "I hope that the concert raises more money this time. I would like to double the amount that we raised in March."
Hunt said the concert is being held earlier in the year so that the money raised will benefit this year's program.
"I wanted to do it earlier than last year so the money that we raise can be put to use this winter," he said.
Rick Hunt will act as master of ceremonies for the gospel concert and Butch Hunt and his son Jeff will perform, Butch Hunt said, adding that he is grateful to the Rev. Marvin Harris for allowing the concert to be held at his church.
"Pastor Harris is opening the doors of the church again for this concert," he said. "They have some great folks up there."
"It's fantastic," Washington said. "It's an ideal fundraiser. These folks are willing to use their talent for a good cause."
Folks are invited to come to the concert, enjoy the music and donate some money for a very worthy cause, Hunt said.
"People who came to the concert in March told us that they had a great time," he said. "I hope we'll have a good turnout for this concert. I would like to see standing room only."
Songs for the homeless
A gospel concert to benefit LifeStyles of Maryland's Safe Nights program will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 1 at Fellowship Church at 9805 Faith Baptist Road in White Plains. Admission is free but donations will be accepted and given to LifeStyles to help run the Safe Nights program.
Guest performers include Jimmy Passwaters, Bay City Quartet, J.D. Davenport, Butch Hunt, The Pickin' Pals and Jeff Hunt.
Call 301-934-3655 or 301-753-9369.
Shelter from the cold
The Safe Nights program administered by LifeStyles of Maryland in La Plata is under way and the nonprofit organization needs the public's help to keep it alive. The program provides shelter for the county's homeless population in local churches from Nov. 1-March 31 each year. Homeless people are served a hot dinner and breakfast.
The nonprofit organization is in need of many things to keep the program rolling, including monetary donations, volunteers, bagged lunches, gift certificates from local fast-food restaurants and gas cards.
The program also needs churches that can open their doors to provide shelter.
Call Sandy Washington, executive director, at 301-609-9900 or send money to LifeStyles of Maryland, 612 E Charles St., La Plata MD 20646.
