ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Allentown YMCA’s shelter has served dozens of people each night since its early opening Sept. 29, the day the city started to bulldoze and evict residents from a homeless encampment.
The guest list has featured “a core group” of 20-25 people who have spent most of the past week at the shelter, and about 10 new faces each night, according to Tami Unger, a branch director with River Crossing YMCA.
Shelter officials said that with a significant population already using the shelter, they're thinking about what they may face if demand spikes with the coming cold weather.Allentown YMCA shelter officials
Some are former residents of the camp along Jordan Creek that officials shut down hours before the shelter’s early opening.
But many are from outside Allentown city limits, including some from Slatington, Easton and surrounding areas, Unger said.
And shelter officials said that with a significant population already using the shelter, they're thinking about what they may face if demand spikes with the coming cold weather.
Early opening presented opportunity
The shelter opens its doors at 7 p.m. nightly and accepts new residents until 8:30 p.m.
It serves dinner seven nights a week — including Monday pizza nights funded by a donor — and offers games, TVs, books and other entertainment for those who stay there.
The lights go out at 10 p.m. for all residents, who must be out by 6:45 a.m. the next day.
The shelter’s early opening has gone “very well,” Unger said.
The camp's closure "has definitely been a catalyst for us to work even harder [and] more quickly together."Tami Unger, Allentown YMCA branch director
It’s given employees and others more time to build trust and a relationship with residents before the winter hits, she said.
The camp’s closure last month “definitely has brought this community of nonprofits and service providers close together to really work toward solutions” for homeless people, she said.
Advocates in Allentown have long worked together, “but I think this has definitely been a catalyst for us to work even harder [and] more quickly together,” Unger said.
Many of those who have stayed at the shelter during its first week were “just thankful that they have a place to stay [and a roof] over their head,” she said.
Demand may spike
The shelter this offseason built a new community space and expanded its capacity to serve up to 80 people.
But Unger said she's somewhat concerned whether that will be enough to serve all who want shelter this year, with about half its beds already in use amid mild weather.
“If we are already almost at 40 [people], what’s that going to look like in the coldest months?”Tami Unger, Allentown YMCA branch director
She said she expects more people soon will seek shelter with weather expected to worsen this week.
“If we are already almost at 40 [people], what’s that going to look like in the coldest months?” she said.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk in early August ordered the camp’s closure, citing flooding concerns raised by city fire officials.
He initially called for residents to leave by Aug. 25, but postponed the eviction until Sept. 29 to give the YMCA more time to coordinate the shelter’s early opening.
Allentown and Lehigh County each contributed $50,000 and the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation gave $25,000 to help it open about seven weeks ahead of schedule.
River Crossing YMCA’s executive leadership team has held talks with Tuerk about keeping the shelter open throughout the year, but no decision has been made, Unger said.
