Temporary homeless shelter will open in Eden

Although the local homeless shelter won’t open its doors for two more months, Portia Parris wants to emphasize to the people of Rockingham County the need the shelter fulfills and the importance of someday having a permanent shelter.

“We needed it yesterday,” Parris, who is a chairwoman on the board of Rockingham County Help for the Homeless, said. Parris said the organization recently secured a location for the temporary shelter, which is scheduled to open Jan. 2 and operate until the end of March.

Help for the Homeless is currently seeking donations to help run the shelter. Among the needed items are bed linens, cots and gently used warm clothing. The group also needs volunteers and monetary donations.

“We are going to need financial support,” Parris said.

Parris said the shelter’s temporary home will be in Eden, although she declined to elaborate on the specifics because of legalities.

“It’s centrally located in the county,” she said. The shelter is open to homeless residents throughout the county.

The shelter accommodates between 25 and 30 people a night, Parris said. She added that while people often stereotype the homeless, the numbers are made up of men, as well as women and children.

Although Help for Homeless is known for primarily for its shelter, Parris said the organization helps with other needs, such as transitional housing and helping residents get back on their feet.

“The shelter is probably the most visible part of the problem,” Parris said, but in recent times, more people have sought help from the organization.

“The phone calls have tripled in the past three years,” Parris said. “It’s a sign of the times and we’re really feeling the effects of the economy.”

Residents who want to make donations to Help for the Homeless can send them to P.O. Box 406, Madison, NC 27025. For more information, call (336) 548-9533.