The LIFE HUB Winter Shelter for adults experiencing homelessness in the city of Wheeling is set to close on Saturday, March 16, after the last night on Friday.
The LIFE HUB Winter Shelter served over 360 unduplicated guests this winter at its shelter location in the former English Lutheran Church, 35-16th Street in downtown Wheeling.
“Ohio County is blessed with several social service agencies and faith-based communities dedicated to providing resources within their mission to assist the poor and homeless. Collaborative efforts are important for the low barrier shelter to operate during the winter and beyond,” stated Melissa Adams, the City of Wheeling Homeless Liasian.
Meals were provided throughout the Winter by LIFE HUB Community Partners the Catholic Neighborhood Center, the Soup Kitchen, and HoH-Share at their locations. Street Moms provided street outreach, The Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless provided services, and partnering agencies offered showers and laundry. The current church building will undergo renovations and the construction on-site of a new shelter building in the near future that will include showers and laundry facilities.
Helping Heroes coordinated shelter services for Veterans. YWCA Wheeling housed victims of domestic violence. Families were sheltered at partnering organizations or in hotel rooms when needed. Project Hope made regular rounds and provided care for medical needs.
“It takes an entire community to ensure those in need have the proper care and coordination for wraparound services. The LIFE HUB is so grateful to all our community partners. We cannot thank them enough for their partnerships,” stated Joyce Wolen, Wheeling Housing Authority Executive Director.
John Moses, LIFE HUB Winter Shelter Director, stressed that the LIFE HUB will continue collaborating with community partners to coordinate homeless services beyond the shelter and to ensure basic emergent needs are addressed quickly and efficiently. Housed individuals and families needing rental assistance or utility assistance can continue to call 211, another community partner through the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley.
“We are grateful for all of the individuals, organizations, foundations and faith-based organizations that have supported our efforts through financial and In-Kind gifts over the last 14 years,” said Moses. “We thank them for their continued support this year. The LIFE HUB and its winter shelter would not happen without these generous benefactors.
“I also want to thank the hard-working night staff and maintenance for providing a safe, warm environment each night this winter. This would be very difficult to do without their care coordination.”
“We are also so grateful to the faith-based community for their donations of time, talent, and treasure,” added Deacon George Smoulder, who is leading faith-based initiatives for the LIFE HUB. “We must remember that we are called to serve those in need with dignity and respect. Our local faith-based communities have always stepped up to assist when the need is great.”
Checks may be made out to the LIFE HUB nonprofit and mailed to P.O. Box 2089; Wheeling, WV 26003. A website landing page can securely accept online donations at lifehubwv.org. Cash donations are used to purchase items such as work uniforms, scrubs, workstyle boots, shoes, and bus tokens. Donations will be used beyond the winter to prevent homelessness, get individuals and families into housing, and ensure the most vulnerable and sick people have access to shelter to convalesce.
The LIFE HUB was created as a nonprofit organization in 2022, as a program of the Wheeling Housing Authority partnering with the City of Wheeling. The goal of the LIFE HUB is to operate a spacious shelter year-round for homeless adults and families. The program will also provide a variety of services under one roof to help strategically and compassionately the homeless successfully navigate through a variety of systems that include housing, employment, education, health, and mental health, to ensure a rapid response to basic emergent needs and prevent homelessness.
Questions may be directed to the following: Melissa Adams at 304.551.2118 or madams@wheelingwv.gov; John Moses at 304.215.8904 or johnmoses@comcast.net; Joyce Wolen at 304.639.8429 or joyce@wheelingwv-pha.org; George Smoulder at 304.280.0008 or george_smoulder@yahoo.com. Social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube can be followed for additional information @lifehubwv. The website will soon be under full construction.
