Pottstown homeless warming center to rotate among 4 churches for winter

POTTSTOWN — Keeping unhoused people warm this winter in the borough will occur at four churches instead of one, Beacon of Hope has announced.

With delays caused by property title complications in the effort to build a permanent shelter, the nonprofit agency has pivoted to a mobile strategy to keep those living outside warm overnight this winter.

Assuming cold weather actually arrives at some point this autumn, those who last year used the nonprofit’s 34-bed warming center in the basement of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ will be keeping warm overnight in a different church every month over the six months between November and April.

By moving the warming center to a different church each month, Beacon of Hope will avoid the zoning conflict with the borough that occurred last year because the use “won’t be permanent,” explained Tom Niahros, executive director of Pottstown Beacon of Hope.

In fact, he said, the idea was suggested by borough officials who noted that before the pandemic, that had been the practice in Pottstown. “So there’s 17 years of precedent,” he said.

The rotation should also hopefully diminish the impacts on the neighborhood around St. Paul’s, which had become an issue during last year’s operation.

In addition to St. Paul’s, the three other churches which will have overnight accommodations during the winter are St. James Lutheran Church at 1101 High St., Christ Episcopal Church at 316 High St. and the building at 575 N. Keim St. occupied by three congregations — Bethel Community Church of Pottstown, which owns the building and shares it with Congregation Hesed Shel Emet and, more recently, First Baptist Church.

As was the case last year, Beacon of Hope will operate an intake center every evening at Christ Episcopal Church, registering those who are staying, and then transport them to whichever warming center location is being operated that month where they will have a warm bed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

“The collaboration between Pottstown Beacon of Hope and local churches demonstrates the power of community unity. By pooling resources, expertise, and compassion, these organizations are making a significant impact on the lives of the most vulnerable members of the community,” said a press release issued Thursday by Beacon of Hope.

Last year, the Pottstown Zoning Hearing Board approved Beacon of Hope’s request to operate a permanent 45-bed shelter on the western edge of the borough at a 2.3-acre site at the corner of Glasgow and West High streets. However, problems with clearing the title have kept construction from starting despite the fact that Beacon of Hops has raised the money needed to build it.

Had the shelter been built over the summer, this rotating warming center solution would have been unnecessary. Niahros said the property is finally supposed to be “free and clear” by January. However, due to the long delays with that site and the failure to come to resolution, “we’ve taken some of our eggs out of that basket.”

Beacon of Hope is now also considering establishing the shelter at the now vacant Antonelli Medical School building at the corner of Industrial Highway and Armand Hammer Boulevard in Lower Pottsgrove, which closed in 2017. He said a zoning hearing for that option is being sought but not yet scheduled.

If that is the option chosen, Beacon of Hope would likely renovate the existing building rather than build new, he said

Either way, “we’re hoping this is the last year we have to run a warming center,” said Niahros.

“We are deeply committed to ensuring that no one in our community has to face the harsh winter nights without a warm place to sleep, a hot meal, and the support they need to rebuild their lives,” Niarhos said in Beacon of Hope’s press release. “Our partnership with many faith communities exemplifies the strength that arises when we work together to address the challenges our community faces. Together, we can make a difference.”

The warming center not only offers a safe haven from the cold but also provides essential services such as hot meals, hygiene resources, and access to social support. Pottstown Beacon of Hope aims to create a nurturing environment that fosters hope, dignity, and resilience among its guests.

This will mark the fourth consecutive year of the Pottstown Beacon of Hope’s winter warming center operation. Over the past three years, the organization has provided shelter, warmth, and assistance to those in need, filling beds more than 12,500 times and serving more than 18,000 meals. Additionally, the team has assisted nearly 100 individuals in transitioning into stable housing.