Shepherd’s House opens shelter for homeless women, children

The Shepherd’s House in Bend is opening a new home Saturday in Bend for addicted or abused homeless women with children.

The home is the first step toward a program serving as many as 40 homeless women and children, making this the largest shelter and program dedicated to homeless women and children in central Oregon, officials said Thursday.

The number of homeless people in Central Oregon, especially women and children, is high and on the rise, they said.

Bob Moore of Deschutes County reported in May that in Central Oregon, “there was a rise in people that are either camped in cars or camped out in the woods in outbuildings not designed for human habitation. That population over the last three years has continued to increase and that’s a warning trend.”

This new home will be a safe place for these women with children, and will provide a long-term program to help these women address the controlling behaviors that led to their homelessness.

Curt Floski, executive director of The Shepherd’s House, said, “We have been providing shelter, food and program services for men for nearly a decade, and we have all seen the need to provide services to homeless women. This new home will mean that we don’t have to turn away women who are desperate for our help.”

Gloria Hall will be The Shepherd’s House women’s & children’s director. Gloria has a degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Texas and worked with homeless, addicted and abused women and children for over 25 years.

Hall led similar programs in Tacoma, Seattle and Portland, and joined The Shepherd’s House in 2014 to help launch this new center in Bend.

Hall said, “I am so excited to open this new center. We have so many churches, businesses and individuals bringing furniture, food and other needed items. The community support is tremendous.”

The Shepherd’s House is holding an “Open House” on Saturday from 1 PM to 4 PM at the new home, which is located at the corner of Bear Creek Road and Dean Swift Road. The public is invited to tour the new home, and to meet the staff and the new residents.

The first resident is a single mom with a fourth-grade son. They have been living in a car for three years.

People are invited to attend to donate fresh meats, vegetables, and basic food staples for the home residents.

The Foundry Church has put up a $50,000 matching grant to help launch this new program. People can log on to http://myshepherdshouse.org/tshgive/ to make a matching gift.

The Shepherd’s House is registered at Bed Bath and Beyond for those who would like to bring a house-warming gift.