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To the editor:

Due to COVID-19 and CDC recommendations that individuals should not be in a congregate shelter, government funding has again been made available to provide individual shelter for the homeless for a limited period of time. Suffolk Christian Fellowship Center has secured this funding to provide non-congregant hotel shelter to our homeless community this winter. This is restricted to literally homeless adults wjp would otherwise be sleeping outside.

The season will commence Nov. 15 and will be administered by Cheryl Griffin, who led last year’s COVID-19 shelter response. There will also be a case manager to help provide needs-based services such as connecting guests with significant health needs that cannot be served within the emergency shelter setting to more intensive support systems, and housing-focused outreach to help households obtain permanent housing and receive the housing-focused supportive services necessary to retain permanent housing.

We are looking for churches and organizations who are willing to assist in providing meals during the sheltering season. It would be most helpful if churches would consider signing up in one-week blocks. This will be a “no contact” daily delivery. For more information on providing meals, please contact Priscilla Bunch at 757-510-0347 or pbunch121@gmail.com.

All homeless guests must first call the Regional Housing Crisis Hotline at 757-587-4202 or 1-866-750-4431 to be referred.

For more information, please contact Cheryl Griffin at Cherylhgriffin1@gmail.com or 757-304-2883.

Cheryl Griffin

Suffolk