Men’s shelter provider to reopen

Albany men’s crisis accommodation provider Shalom House is set to reopen its doors on Monday after weeks of uncertainty over the shelter’s future.

Shalom House was forced to close down in the middle of winter in early July but the shelter did not provide a public explanation behind the closure until last week, citing “unexpected staff shortages” as the reason behind the indefinite closure.

Shalom House chairman Jim Dijkstra said the committee involved in running the shelter for the city’s homeless were left with no option but to make the difficult decision.

“Since that time, we have been active behind the scenes coming up with a contingency plan and, at a board meeting held on July 26, were able to consider a potential new employee that will allow us to reopen our doors,” he said.

“On July 27, some committee members met again and we are thankful that he has agreed to take on the vacant position of co-ordinator for the remainder of winter opening hours.” Mr Dijkstra said the committee had completed a successful induction period this week with the new employee — a retired local man — so the centre could reopen on Monday.

“It was quite a bit of upheaval and was something we really didn’t want to do, so we are regretful for that but relieved we can now reopen,” he said.

Shalom House provides seven beds for the homeless from May to October. Mr Dijkstra said between three and five of the beds had been regularly used this winter before the unexpected closure.

Almost 70 people stayed at the shelter in its first two years of opening in 2013, with 35 using the crisis accommodation in 2015 and 32 in 2014.