 - The new Riverton’s Mercy House homeless shelter opened its doors July 1, and since then the organization has already experienced “somewhat of a success,” Board Chair Grace Andrus reported during a Riverton City Council meeting last week. ){kind=link}
(Riverton, WY) – The new Riverton’s Mercy House homeless shelter opened its doors July 1, and since then the organization has already experienced “somewhat of a success,” Board Chair Grace Andrus reported during a Riverton City Council meeting last week.
“We have a long way to go,” Andrus said, acknowledging that, “as with any business or organization, when you open there’s some chaos at the beginning as (everyone is) getting up to speed.” “But I’m so happy for the staff and the volunteers that have done so much work.”
During the month of July, Andrus said Mercy House admitted a total of 53 people who registered “with an intent to stay overnight.”
Some of those individuals were able to “work a few days, get their finances together, and get out and get a house,” Andrus said, while others arrived with “no jobs (and) no place to go” and stayed until they were able to find employment and then move out.
“The vast majority of people who come in are very grateful for the help,” Andrus told County 10 in an interview last week, describing the clientele as “very respectful.”
Many even offer to do chores, Andrus said – something that Mercy House encourages but doesn’t require.
“They are cleaning the bathrooms, they are doing the house laundry, they are cooking the meals and cleaning the kitchen and doing the dishes,” she said. “They’re asking to do it, and they’re asking for responsibilities.”
Of course, she told the city council, “there are times when people come in and they’re intoxicated (or) on some type of drug” – but staff members and volunteers have noticed that some of those individuals later show up sober, “and we can see the difference – like physically we can see the difference.”
“It is absolutely amazing,” she said.
Later, Andrus explained to County 10 that everyone receiving services at Mercy House takes a breathalyzer test, and as long as they aren’t “in a place where we think that they’re not safe” – usually meaning their blood-alcohol content is below .20 percent – they are given food and a place to stay.
Those who are intoxicated sleep on a floor mat, however, so staff don’t have to worry about them “falling out of the bed or aspirating,” Andrus said.
“It’s kind of also like a goal,” she added. “If you come in, you get a bed, and the next day you come in and you’ve been drinking and you’re back to the mat, that’s kind of a bummer. (It) gives them kind of a goal, and a reason to consider being sober.”
Anyone who shows up at Mercy House “falling down” due to intoxication, or with a BAC above .20 percent, is not able to be fed or admitted to the shelter, “just for their own safety,” Andrus noted, and if their BAC is at .25, “they actually do need to go to the hospital.”
In those situations, Andrus said employees can call for an ambulance or a police officer to provide a ride to the hospital, or a volunteer might offer to drive – or the intoxicated individual might decide to walk away from Mercy House.
During the month of July, Andrus said the organization has served 553 meals, distributed “several” hygiene bags along with clothing and shoes, and provided about 100 showers and 30 personal uses of laundry facilities.
People staying at the facility also have access to voluntary Bible studies, she said.
As Mercy House continues settling into its new facility, Andrus said volunteers remain an important part of its day-to-day operations, with help particularly needed for breakfast and dinner service.
Those interested in volunteering can sign up through the Mercy House website.
The organization also accepts donations of food and hygiene supplies at the shelter, 917 E. Washington Ave. in Riverton.
More information and updates are available on the Mercy House Facebook page.