Samaritan House Lakewood, a registered non-profit organization, encourages the public to attend its Open House on Saturday, June 7, from 2-6 p.m. Located within All Saints Community Center (213 Madison Avenue/Route 9), Samaritan House Lakewood will offer temporary shelter and comprehensive support for nine adults who are homeless.
Ocean County Freeholders Gerry P. Little and John P. Kelly are scheduled to participate in the 2 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony.
At Samaritan House Lakewood, individuals must sign a covenant indicating their commitment to work, sobriety, permanent housing, and community living. Then they will be eligible to reside at the facility for up to three months.
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Samaritan House Lakewood offers a safe, clean, and humble dwelling that includes shared bedrooms and bathrooms, a communal dining area, and a small living room. Residents will receive meals, clothing, and toiletries, and most importantly, a structured system of counseling, life skills, and job training.
According to Ginger Harris, Board President of Samaritan House Lakewood, residents will work closely with volunteers from All Saints Community Center in order to set short-term and long-term goals. Each resident will be assigned a mentor, or “shepherd,” who will serve as a guide and sounding board throughout the process.
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“We need to help people remember how to live within a community again,” Harris points out. “After experiencing chronic homelessness, they can forget what it means to be part of the greater good and contribute to a group. This is a huge part of the Samaritan House experience.
“At Samaritan House Lakewood,” Harris continues, “our shepherds will encourage residents along their journey and provide them with the skills they need to become shepherds themselves. Then they’re empowered to contribute to Samaritan House and the community at large.”
At the Open House event, visitors can receive a tour of Samaritan House Lakewood, review the shelter’s wish list, and consider making a tax-deductible donation.
Samaritan House Lakewood estimates its meal expenses will be approximately $2,000 a month. Donors can sponsor a room at Samaritan House Lakewood, in order to offset these costs.
On-line donations, of any amount, can be made at crowdrise.com/SamaritanHouseLakewood.
At this time, Samaritan House Lakewood is seeking new items for the temporary shelter, which is scheduled to open this month. These items include extra-long twin beds (metal frames, dorm-style), laptops (for supervised computer classes and job searches) and a refrigerator, washer, dryer, and television.
Due to lack of storage, Samaritan House Lakewood cannot accept in-person donations or drop-offs. However, volunteers are available to pick up large items.
For additional details about donations or the Open House, please like “Samaritan House Lakewood” on Facebook, e-mail samaritanlakewood@gmail.com, or call Ginger Harris at 732-425-3623.
