St. Benedict’s Homeless Shelter has announced its newest facility will be dedicated to women and family services and will tentatively open Nov. 1, 2019.
St. Benedict’s Women and Family Services, located at 905 Hickman Ave., will serve as a day shelter for women, children and families and will operate from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.
“This facility will allow women, children, and families to have a place to rest during the day, while having access to our expanding services,” Pedigo said.
Available resources will consist of specialized case management, laundry and shower facilities, life skills and employment services. Audubon Area Community Services will partner with St. Benedict’s to provide services, healthcare, housing and screenings for their Head Start Program.
St. Benedict’s Homeless Shelter, the organization’s original men’s facility, will now offer extended hours.
“Our men’s facility has operated as an overnight shelter for years, and we are excited to announce our services expanding to all in our community that may be experiencing homelessness and to provide a place to reside during the day, as a means to provide additional services,” Pedigo said.
The men’s facility, located at 1001 West Seventh Street, will operate 22 hours a day, seven days a week, closing between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
“Our closure will allow our men to eat at our local community soup kitchens,” Pedigo said. “Our men will now be able to secure third shift positions.”
According to Pedigo, the men’s facility will be able to assist individuals in some capacity 24 hours a day.
St. Benedict’s will announce a new Director of Special Initiatives for the Women and Children Facility within the coming weeks. The position will focus on special initiatives within the community, the homeless population and ministries, to best serve the expanding capacity and new facility.
