Three awards secured by State Representative Steve Samuelson will help BES improve the shelter’s kitchen, guest areas, dining area, showers, laundry, and overall access thanks to a new elevator.
BETHLEHEM, PA – The City of Bethlehem and Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering (BES) will be able to make long-awaited facility improvements thanks in part to three state grants secured by State Representative Steve Samuelson (D-Northampton County District 135). The grants amount to $2,563,608 and will go toward an extensive list of projects. The kitchen, where volunteers prepared and served 9,656 dinners during the last six-month shelter season, will be renovated along with the food storage area and the social hall where guests have their meals. The women’s first-floor dormitory and the men’s second-floor rooms will be reconfigured to improve the sleeping environment. Restrooms and showers will be upgraded, along with the administration offices and conference space so service providers will have access to private areas when assisting guests.
Perhaps the most impactful project will be the addition of an elevator and elevator room for easier access to the dorm rooms, kitchen, and dining areas. Dorm access has long been problematic for guests with mobility issues, and in a recent survey, 40% of volunteers said that navigating stairs is the biggest obstacle to helping in the shelter. “These grants will go a long way toward upgrading the shelter so BES can better serve the most vulnerable people in our community,” says The Rev. Canon Rodney Conn, BES board chair. “The grants also will improve the working environment for the many volunteers, partner churches, and organizations who do so much for the shelter.”
Three Grants
Rep. Samuelson secured a $313,608 grant for BES in May, a $1.75 million grant through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program in July, and most recently, a $500,000 grant in September. “All of these dollars will be utilized to provide a year-round sheltering option for our most vulnerable citizens,” says Samuelson. “The shelter is in the heart of my district; it’s only a block away from my office and we refer people there all the time. Their staff do amazing work helping local women and men who are experiencing challenges that have left them unhoused. “I am glad that I was able to work with the administration of Gov. Josh Shapiro to acquire this funding, so the shelter can be upgraded,” says Samuelson.
Next Steps
The shelter improvements will begin after the development of a detailed engineering and architectural plan. This will result in an updated cost estimate and a construction schedule which will minimize disruption to guests, volunteers, and Christ Church UCC.
As the design phase and eventual construction process move forward, BES will reach out to supporters and the community to increase the annual operational income to meet the demands of a twelve-month shelter.
Outreach is needed because renovation costs are estimated to be nearly $6 million. The three grants plus previously secured matching funds bring the total close to this goal although work remains to be done. “The grants will support the facility improvements,” says Conn, “but we must continue to work with our partners to support shelter operations. Together we can achieve our long-term goal of a year-round shelter for our street neighbors.”
Grants Managed By The CFA
BES will not receive the grants directly. The grants will go to the City of Bethlehem, which will manage and disperse the funds through the Local Share Account Program, a part of the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA).
The CFA is an independent agency with fiduciary responsibility over Pennsylvania’s economic growth programs.
The grant process requires a qualified agent to act on the shelter’s behalf. The City will act as the shelter’s agent, submitting detailed project plans to CFA for approval and then reimbursing contractors electronically. The process requires that all funds are reimbursements, meaning that project expenses must be incurred before funds can be released.
An important distinction is that the City’s only role in the process is to oversee reimbursements. Shelter operations as well as the facility will continue to be the responsibilities of BES and Christ Church UCC.
About BES
Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering is a volunteer-based partnership which provides a network of care and hospitality for the homeless.
BES dates back to January 2009, when workers at the Trinity Episcopal Soup Kitchen recognized that many people were sleeping outdoors because no room was available in neighboring shelters. As a result, area churches and BES came together on a rotating schedule to offer space for the homeless.
In 2017 BES transitioned to a single site at Christ Church UCC, enabling social service support organizations to address the issues that lead to homelessness.
Since then, the number of unhoused guests increased each year. Last year, BES hosted an average of 67 street guests nightly.
The majority of people who stayed at the shelter – 94% – were from Pennsylvania, mostly from Lehigh, Northampton, and neighboring counties. More than half were ages 50 or more, 8% were veterans, 21% were employed outside the shelter, and 34% had a disability.
In addition to overnight sheltering, BES administers the Weekend Bagged Lunch Program in partnership with Christ Church UCC. Volunteers donate and serve more than 200 nutritionally balanced lunches on Saturday and Sunday afternoons between 11:45 am and 1:00 pm to anyone who comes to the shelter door.
For more information about BES visit: bethlehememergencysheltering.org
