Our Vision was too small. That’s what this last year has taught me.
A year ago we were focused on reopening our 26 bed shelter. We tried appealing the City’s ruling, submitted plans for renovating the building in phases adding sprinklers to the part where the shelter was housed – but even though this was in the City’s original plan, they denied it. In fact, they asked us to go back and start with the site approval process again.
In the meantime, through the gracious intervention of the County, we moved to Pavilion. Instead of operating a 26 bed shelter from 7pm to 7am – we were suddenly providing safe harbor for 80 men, women and children, 24 hours a day!
Our guests and our staff loved this change. Kitsap Strong wanted to capture some of the positive changes in the community during COVID so they came to the Pavilion to facilitate a conversation about those changes with both staff and volunteers, and our guests. Here are some of the comments:
What our staff had to say:
“It’s easier to connect guests with services. We know where they are!”
“ I love it! Our guests are removed from the drugs and violence
that were downtown.”
“We have more time to build relationships with our guests.”
“The increased space gives us room for social distancing and everything
is a lot calmer. It’s quieter.”
What our guests had to say:
“There is so much less stress! It’s away from downtown and the distractions
that kept us from moving forward.”
“I know where I am going to sleep tonight and who will be there with me.”
“There is more room here. It’s a safe place; peaceful.”
“I have a place to store my stuff!”
You can see the common themes: quieter and more peaceful, and more room.
So, we made the decision to sell our building on 6th Street. This was not an easy decision knowing how many people had sacrificed to move us in and help us stay there.
But, with both our staff and guests preferring to be somewhere else, we decided. We knew too that staying downtown would require us to start over and what the City wasn’t demanding – Covid was. State Health Department officials who were out to tour the Pavilion (with rave reviews) said that even when Covid is contained, there will be another pandemic so the social distancing guidelines for congregant living and meal spaces is here to stay. All the architectural work would have to start over and we’d only be able to serve half the number of people in the original plan.
God showed us this year that a 24 hour shelter blesses our guests and our staff. We never would have made the leap to changing what we do so drastically, without experiencing it. Thank you, Lord for grace in guiding us into a new plan that we would never have envisioned on our own.
Please pray with us as we seek God’s blessing and guidance for the next steps on our journey together.
We know what’s needed:
- A space large enough for 80 people with beds 6 feet apart
- Showers and bathrooms so that no one has to wait in line anymore
- Room to bring services on site
Our verse for 2021 is Ephesians 3:20-21.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Stay tuned – we will be hosting some virtual tours of the Pavilion that will allow those attending to ask questions. Looking forward to seeing you!
