Shelter

Working Guest Program

This program is for homeless men who have secured verifiable full time employment and need additional time to save money for reestablishing themselves into the community with stable housing. This includes all meals, laundry and other services provided to all guests. These men are evaluated at the end of 30 days to determine their status. A man may be extended an additional 30 days based on his financial status and/or other criteria. If additional time is needed past the first extension, another 30-day period can be granted. These extensions, with approval, may be added, up to a maximum of six months.

In November 2003, Wheeler recognized the need to make special provision for homeless men who were working different hours. Many times, the best job opportunity for a homeless man may be working the graveyard shift. Before 2003, homeless men who were working nights had to try to sleep in one of the plastic chairs in the dayroom -- not an easy thing to do. Now clients who work the late shifts have their own dedicated room. Quiet and separated from the dayroom and other facilities, these men can get the rest they need during the day.

Because of their job hours, these men are not required to attend chapel services on their working days, but must attend evening chapel services on their days off. Beyond that, they must comply with all the other requirements of the Working Guest Program.

Special Needs Program

This program is designed to help those men whose needs cannot be met by inclusion into other Wheeler Mission programs. Special Needs allows men to stay in residence for an extended period of time (not allowed under Emergency Shelter Services) while Wheeler and/or other agencies are working toward facilitating a more long term and permanent solution to these mens housing needs. This category might include such men as those who are homeless with mental or physical health issues, veterans, new pensioners, students, men between jobs, ex-offenders and the like. In addition to all the services mentioned under the Emergency Shelter Services, these men also have laundry privileges. Progress is monitored regularly for the men in this program.