Shelter sheltering

The fact that the Sheltering Arms Homeless Shelter has made it more than a dozen years certainly is a testament to the generosity of our community (including our board of supervisors) and those dedicated to this noble, if not thankless, mission.
It only takes a brief visit to the shelter to think about what might happen if any of us were to trade places with those residents who’ve found themselves down on their luck. That many of us could just as easily be in their shoes is enough to make us want to write a check, say a prayer, offer a kind word and be thankful for the blessings we have.
Unfortunately, that’s not enough to keep the shelter open and operational. Once again, the shelter staff and board find they’re short on funds to keep the modest facility open and available.
Historically, our board of supervisors has been generous to the shelter and pitched in and loaned county funds to help the not-for-profit group make its payroll and keep its doors open.
In a tough economy, we can debate whether or not we want our county funding this not-for-profit over other organizations that perhaps offer more tangible benefits to Orange County citizens, or we could wonder why government has to play this role at all.
That question looms even larger when we consider most of the shelter’s residents are not from Orange, but come here because they couldn’t get into other shelters in neighboring communities.
Isn’t this more of a mission than a government social service--particularly when we consider many of the shelter’s residents aren’t county citizens? It sounds callous to be provincial when it comes to the homeless, but it’s a fair argument to make--and one many have considered, if not articulated.
It also makes us wonder whether or not there is a regional solution since it seems to be a regional problem.
Given this issue is somewhat nebulous, we can’t help but think if the shelter has a future in Orange County, it will be solely because our churches have made it so. Clearly there’s a need, and ministry is not limited by boundaries the way government is.
Particularly now, we believe the shelter is a tremendous resource--regardless of where the residents come from. But if it’s to continue, it’ll have to be because our churches make it happen.