Wayside Inn Shelter

Temporary housing for those who are homeless.

Wayside Inn Shelter helping people help themselves, one step at a timeWayside Inn has been on our hearts and the Community has been without an emergency shelter for many years. Groups like the hospital, township trustees, social service agencies, churches, and civic offices like the Mayor and law enforcement just cobbled together nights of stay at local hotels or in tents at the County Park.

We have some communities in the county where people would take shelter in abandoned trailers or mobile homes, or literally pitch tents in the woods. Im sure this mirrors the plight of the homeless throughout the nation, but looking people in the eye and telling them there was really no place to send them finally became untenable for a group of us in the community.A group of people who became charter members of the fellowship and ultimately took Board positions shared our hopes and vision for a place to provide emergency shelter.

We envisioned a short-term facility (14 days to perhaps a month) where people could stay and begin to connect with the services/opportunities they needed to become self-sufficient and sustainable. Our volunteer staff helps them with job applications and making connections with local business and industry that might be hiring. If they need mental health services or health care, we work with our community partners to facilitate that.