news-record.com

EDEN — Homeless people in Rockingham County once again have somewhere to turn when they need a meal and a warm bed during winter nights.

Madison-based Rockingham County Help for the Homeless reopened its temporary shelter in the rented basement of United in Christ Ministries on N.C. 87 and has room for 20 people a night. The shelter opened Jan. 2 and will operate until March 31 . The limited quarters do not provide much space for families, but Help for the Homeless will work on a case-by-case basis to accommodate additional people, said Portia Parris , chairwoman of the group’s board of directors.

“Our concern is that we’re putting them right back in the cold, in the elements, during the day,” Parris said.

The shelter operates from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily and provides two hot meals a day, a cot, pillow and blanket as well as games, a television and books.

Guests may have to surrender some personal items and prescription medicines upon entering for the safety of others. They also must agree to a daily check for drugs and weapons and a breathalyzer test. No smoking is allowed.

Next on the nonprofit’s to-do list is finding a permanent location for its office, shelter and a new day center, a task the group has worked on for 10 years. A day center would provide job placement, money management classes and other services for people needing work and housing, Parris said.

Help for the Homeless also plans to conduct its annual point-in-time count of the county’s homeless on Jan. 27 . Last year, the group counted 236 homeless adults.

“I want to let people know that this is coming up and anybody who works with homeless individuals or may know where homeless people are, please contact the office,” Parris said.

Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 627-4881, Ext. 119, or morgan.josey@news-record.com