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Berwyn Heights church converts into a shelter

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007

Click here to enlarge this photo Bryan Haynes⁄The Gazette Parishioners Betsy Dowling of Berwyn Heights (left) and Denise Troeschel of Greenbelt prepare food for the homeless at the Berwyn Presbyterian Church in Berwyn Heights.

Now in its 18th year of serving as a hostess church, congregation members are experienced veterans in housing the 15 homeless men who participate in the program.

‘‘When you give you get more back in return,” said Church Coordinator Dottie Brown. ‘‘Anybody who can give back to others and not expect anything in return will always be better than where they were before.”

Berwyn Presbyterian Church, Berwyn Heights’ lone church, joins 16 other churches throughout the county involved in ‘‘Safe Haven,” which began hosting the men for a week at each church since Nov. 27. The program will end mid-March, said Safe Haven Coordinator Lois Jones.

‘‘Since Safe Haven first began, to what it is today, we have placed more emphasis on not only providing a shelter but doing something to get [the men] in the workforce,” Jones said. ‘‘We have done this with showing them how to do resumes and providing references for jobs.”

While she did not have specific numbers, Jones said that Safe Haven participants have gone on to find employment. To qualify for the program, Jones has a face to face interview with the men, where she determines if they will be able to follow the rules.

Volunteer Larry Knox said the men often learn about the program through word of mouth.

‘‘The great thing about the program is that we’re not judgmental,” Volunteer Bruce Murray said. ‘‘As long as they behave and follow the rules we’re willing to help anybody that needs assistance.”

Although background checks are not conducted, Jones said that there have been few problems.

‘‘We’re willing to give our time and money but, the men need to be serious about this and follow the rules.” Jones said. ‘‘We do give them a chance to stay as long as they behave.”

The men can be thrown out of the program for such things as using drugs, drinking alcohol, getting into fights with other men in the program or verbally abusing the volunteer staff.

From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. the men are not in the church and are encouraged to look for jobs.

‘‘We are not a 24-hour adult nursery,” Knox said. ‘‘Often our chaperones have day-jobs and it would be quite difficult for them to clean up the hall room, go home and get ready for work early in the morning.”

One participant, who requested anonymity, said that the program has kept him focused on improving his life.

‘‘The program makes me feel more focused on things I need to do for myself,” he said. ‘‘Like saving money, controlling my hygiene and survival skills.”

E-mail Marcus Ngbea at mngbea@gazette.net.