Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter

WATTS is a non-profit, charitable organization (501c3) that provides a safe, temporary, overnight, cold-weather shelter for homeless guests at host sites in Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia. During the winter of 2009-2010, WATTS served 75 different people, averaged 16 guests per night, and provided 1,126 beds during a ten week season.

Why is this shelter necessary? This shelter is needed to extend current ministries to the chronically homeless in our community, reaching out to a growing and more diverse population. Homeless persons who are not able to be served overnight by other community agencies will be welcomed by WATTS. Local media have recently highlighted the changing face of homelessness and the impact of the current economic crisis. We believe it is essential to not only respond to what is happening now but also to prepare for what will be in the future.

How is the shelter governed? A Board of Directors of local church leaders, pastors, and community representatives governs WATTS as a 501c3 non-profit, charitable organization.

Is this an original idea? While a temporary, thermal shelter is new to the Winchester/Frederick County area, similar shelters existin in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, and Richmond, and in other parts of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as throughout the nation.

Where is the WATTS shelter housed each night? Faith communities make a commitment to host shelter guests for one week at a time, beginning on Monday evening and concluding the following Monday morning. A healthy, nutristious dinner and an light breakfast are provided by the host faith community and other community partners each day.

Who staffs the shelter? Two paid, trained night managers staff the shelter each evening. In addition, each faith community provides a daily team of volunteers (approximately 6-10 people), who furnish the meals, offer optional evening activites, and spend the night (2 volunteers).

When does the shelter operate? WATTS operated for 10 consecutive weeks from January 4 through March 15, 2010. Guests arrived and registered at 7:00pm each night and departed by 7:00am the following morning. Depending on the particular ministry of a given faith community, there times are somewhat negotiable. We have made a commitment to begin a new season of WATTS on December 13. 2010 and to continue for twelve weeks through March 7, 2011.

If a faith community is not able to host the shelter, are there other opportunities to be involved? A faith community not able to host may indeed partner with another faith community, providing meals, supplies, staffing and monetary donations.

Is WATTS restricted to faith communities in downtown Winchester? Not at all! WATTS serves as a healthy bridge between faith communities in Winchester and Frederick County, along with the governments of Winchester and Frederick County. Host and partner churches are in both Winchester and Frederick County.

How is the shelter funded? Faith communities, businesses, and service organizations of our area, along with many benevolent individuals, provide the necessary funding, along with offerings of time, talent, and gifts-in-kind. We anticipate applying for various grants now that the shelter has completed its first season and therefore has documented statistics and history.

What is the anticipated annual budget? In our first year, our budget was $19,000, which provided supplies and resources (cots, linens, equipment, etc.), paid for the evening staff, and covered administrative costs such as insurance, cell phone, etc. We were able to operate for less than $20.00 per guest, per night.

What are the continuing needs? Monetary donations: gifts of personal care products, volunteer hours, committee members, and much, much more!

Who do I contact for more information, to contribute, or to volunteer? Please contact Pastor David Witt of Opequon Presbyterian Church, 217 Opequon Church Lane, Winchester, VA at 540-662-1843 or pastor@opequonchurch.com. Checks should be made payable to WATTS; donations are 100% tax deductable.