Food Hub, LCHRA enter agreement to provide 80 emergency shelter beds for the winter

The City of Lancaster, Lancaster County Food Hub, Lancaster County Housing & Redevelopment Authority, and Lancaster County Homelessness Coalition are pleased to announce that 80 emergency shelter beds will be made available throughout the winter season through March 31, 2024.  

The Lancaster County Food Hub has committed to providing 40 additional emergency shelter beds, for a total of 80 beds, and is working diligently to secure all necessary resources to increase their capacity. Currently, the Food Hub’s low-barrier shelter hosts 40 beds. Additional beds will made available as soon as staff can be recruited.  

“The Food Hub is stepping up in a big way for our community. I am beyond grateful for their dedication and partnership. We urgently need more shelter capacity in the City and other communities around the county,” said Mayor Danene Sorace.  

There are two immediate needs to ensure this expansion in shelter capacity: staffing and financial resources. The Food Hub is immediately hiring full and part-time temporary overnight shelter staff through March 31, 2024. The Food Hub is specifically seeking applicants with any social services education or experience. Apply at lancasterfoodhub.org/about/#jobs. The community also needs financial support to make the shelter expansion a reality for Lancaster’s most vulnerable neighbors. Donations are encouraged to the Lancaster County Homelessness and Affordable Housing Fund at www.lancfound.org/fund/lancaster-county-homelessness-and-affordable-housing-fund.

The low-barrier shelter was previously operating at Ebenezer Baptist Church and was closed on Nov. 15 due to a boiler failure. It was an incredible community effort to move individuals experiencing homelessness to a temporary space in less than 24 hours. Additionally, the Food Hub is overseeing a portable toilet at the rear of the shelter for public use to fill the gap in overnight restroom accessibility in the downtown core.  

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ABOUT THE LANCASTER COUNTY FOOD HUB
Rooted in Faith & Compassion, the Lancaster County Food Hub provide services that honor the dignity of all by striving to meet basic human needs. Learn more at lancasterfoodhub.org.

ABOUT THE LANCASTER COUNTY HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
HOMELESSNESS COALITION
Together, the Coalition provides quality, personalized human and housing services for all individuals and families facing or experiencing homelessness in Lancaster County, and ensures homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring. The Lancaster County Homelessness Coalition is the lead agency for PA-510 and is responsible for the oversight of all Continuum of Care (CoC) policies, procedures, and CoC project funding decisions. Learn more at lchra.com/our-organizations/homelessness-coalition.

ABOUT THE CITY OF LANCASTER 
Spanning 7 square miles in south Central Pennsylvania, the City of Lancaster is home to 60,000 diverse residents. Committed to building a stronger, more equitable Lancaster block by block, the City of Lancaster oversees a range of public services including public safety, health, housing, parks, streets, and water and sewer operations. For more information, visit cityoflancasterpa.gov.