Crook County men’s homeless shelter set to open

After months without a men’s homeless shelter, Crook County is filling the void. A ribbon-cutting for the new Regeneration House in Prineville was held on Monday.

Redemption House Ministries, the organization that runs the shelter, previously used county-owned property next to the Sheriff’s Office, but it had to move earlier this year to make room for the new jail now under construction.

It’s only been a month since groundbreaking for the new facility, and it’s already just weeks away from opening. Greg Sanders, executive director of Redemption House, said there was a big push to have it open before any major snowstorms hit.

“There’s really nowhere else in Crook County for people to go,” he said, “and even some of the surrounding counties, we get people from those locations, because their shelters are usually full or they’re not as easily accessible.”

Mike Wilson, board president of Redemption House, estimates there are about 150 homeless people in the community.

“A lot of people here live just one paycheck away from losing their rent or being put out on the street,” Wilson said. “Sometimes it’s a medical expense that comes up. Somehow, some way, life throws them a curveball.”

Redemption House aims to work with these people until they get back on their feet. The new shelter offers 16 beds, twice as many as the first. There will also be four showers and bathrooms, plus a washer and dryer.

When winter hits, Sanders said, every bed will be filled.

“I’m hoping that we can search our community for additional resources to help. Maybe another church gym could open up to give us an overflow, if we need that,” he said.

There are still a few projects left before the shelter can officially open.

You can get more information and updates here:

http://www.prinevilleredemptionhouse.com/