Less than a week after publicly revealing its plans to open a temporary overnight homeless shelter, Tenfold announced it has secured all the funding it needs to run it.
The nonprofit made the announcement late Monday. In a follow-up email Tuesday, it thanked “everyone who reached out with caring and financial support.”
It’s “amazing” that the money was raised so quickly, Tenfold said, extolling the collaboration that is making the shelter possible: “We should all be proud of our community’s citizens, stakeholders and leaders.”
United Way of Lancaster County provided $40,000 toward the effort. Other donors, Tenfold said, include the High Foundation, Lancaster County Community Foundation, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Rick and Jessica Rodgers (the founders of Rodgers & Associates) and Lucille Meissner.
Tenfold plans to operate its 50-bed shelter, located at 308 E. King St. for eight to 12 weeks, until the 80-bed shelter under construction at Otterbein United Methodist Church, 20 E. Clay St., is fully up and running. The cost is $2,500 a week, or up to $200,000 if it stays open all 12 weeks.
Monday was the first night for the temporary shelter. It welcomed 32 individuals, Tenfold CEO Shelby Nauman said: 23 men and nine women.
City Council, meanwhile, signed off unanimously Monday night on a declaration of a state of emergency, issued Friday by Mayor Danene Sorace, that allows the shelter to operate through Jan. 31 without going through the city’s zoning process.
The site meets the city’s health and safety standards and Tenfold has scheduled staffing for the first two weeks of operation, Nauman told council members.
While it has covered the shelter’s basic operating budget, Tenfold is actively soliciting donations of supplies, especially paper towels, rubber gloves, sleeping bags, feminine hygiene products, coffee and instant noodles. It’s also seeking cold-weather items for guests such as hats, socks and sleeping bags. A full list is available here. Tenfold also continues to recruit volunteers to staff the site.
