Homelessness in not something most people expect to find in Cayuga County, but it is here. But now there is some help for men who have no place to stay. Chapel House shelter for homeless men began operating out of Holy Family Church in Auburn last December, and men have been staying there every night since.

The Rev. Dennis Shaw, pastor of Holy Family, was moved by the numbers released by the Auburn/Cayuga Homelessness Task Force, and he asked his congregation if they wanted to use the school attached to the church to help out.

The answer was “yes,” and the work began. Chapel House uses the gymnasium of the school for the sleeping quarters.

A small kitchenette and a pantry allow the volunteers to prepare a simple supper and breakfast for the men.

Sandi Mettler is coordinator for the shelter. Her previous experience is as an emergency services director for the American Red Cross.

“Living on the street is not a safe place to be,” she said. “Critics said we wouldn't have anybody to serve, because they didn't think there was any homelessness in Cayuga County, but our numbers have proved them wrong.”

More than 40 men stayed at the shelter in January and nearly 80 in February.

The shelter is only open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., when it is not used by anyone else. Mettler is confident the shelter will continue to grow and be more accessible.

“We have a committee who will be looking for a building to buy or lease. Then we could be open 24/7, and we would have rooms where the men could meet with counselors from CHAD, mental health or whoever else they needed to.”

Before the facility could be used as a homeless shelter, it had to be inspected to ensure compliance with safety and occupancy requirements. Support for Chapel House's mission is also given by the various social service and health agencies in Cayuga County. It also refers clients for temporary housing. Sometimes the police may find someone sleeping in a public place or an abandoned building and they bring them to the shelter.

“Right now we're part of Holy Family,” Mettler said, “but when we go on our own, we'll be self-sufficient. We're in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status, and we're hoping to get a board of directors. Then we'll be able to apply for grants and have paid staff, so we won't have to rely solely on volunteers.“

Volunteers typically work a four-hour shift to cover the 12 hours of nightly operation. Mettler has scheduled training sessions so the volunteers will know how to provide the best care for the clients.

“Our volunteers need to know what to look for, where we might direct our clients and to identify their needs,” Mettler said. “We've already gotten two people into their own apartment, so they're not homeless anymore. That's a real success.”

Chapel House was started with $2,000 of donated money that helped to purchase food, pay for the heat and lights and to install a shower. Mettler said that donations of time by volunteers and money and gift cards to area grocery stores are always welcome. With the money and gift cards, food can be purchased to restock the pantries and to buy personal care items. Prepared meals have been donated by Devaney's restaurant in Weedsport, which is a nice change from the warmed up style food that the shelter is usually able to provide.

Want to help?

To make a donation, please mail to The Rev. Dennis Shaw, Holy

Family Rectory, 85

North St., Auburn, NY 13021.

To learn more about

volunteering, call Tim O'Connor at 246-5441