IDLEWILD — Lake County is getting its very first overnight shelter in the county, thanks to a local pastor, his wife, organizations, and people in the community and surrounding areas.
The shelter, called ‘The Wings’ will be located in Idlewild.
People connected to the project said it has been more than two years in the making and will help fulfill a need that’s gone unanswered until now.
Pastor Everett Bowen of God’s True Vine church in Idlewild said there’s a lot of need in Lake County and no overnight shelters
“Everybody is excited because everybody knows the need that we have, you know, every town around us as a shelter. There’s nothing. No nothing. And, you know, Jody, if you walk down the streets and some night you see guys in cardboard boxes,” said Bowen.
He said he’s been in their shoes before.
“The reason we’re doing what we’re going to show them; there is another way. And let me help show you. You don’t have to take it. We can’t force them, but we’re offering them an opportunity to step up,” said Bowen.
Bowen and his wife, Sandi, sank their retirement into this property.
The shelter will be only for men because of limited space and that in his work, he says he’s run into more men than couples or families.
The shelter can hold a full-time caretaker and 7 men.
“It might not house 30 people, but it’s going to house seven people. We’d love to have men and women but in facilities like this, you can’t work it, you know, it would be a total chaos you,” said Bowen.
The pastor said maybe they can expand in the future- saying who knows what god has in store.
there will also be rules, like no drugs or alcohol.
“It’s going to be a challenge, we know that. We have a contract that they have to sign and if they’re out of order, they have to leave right then,” said Bowen.
He also said there is a time limit to how long they can stay, and they must actively be working to get back on their feet.
“They are partnering with other groups to get them resources and has a lady in charge of that,” said Bowen.
“She will come in and put up a board and show them where they can go to get help for medical or whatever, help them get their driver’s license, social security card or their benefits,” said Bowen.
Bowen said this Labor of Love wouldn’t exist without the help of his faith-based group “Men of Purpose’ as well as the groups and churches locally and from the surrounding areas to help with renovations and donating the furnishings and food,” said Bowen.
“We couldn’t do it without them. You know, this whole thing is a community thing. I can’t take credit for none of this. You know, I’m only a tool in God’s toolbox, all right. If the community can work together, we can have a successful community. We might not be the famous or the richest, but we all have something inside of us,” said Bowen.
The open house is set for October 4th from 2 to 5 pm. Bowen said he won’t rest until he sees the fruits of their labor.
“I’m not happy yet. I’m glad it’s not happy yet and happy until these beds are filled or seeing these guys do the works program and seeing the first guy walk out of here, saying ‘Thank you’. Not thanking me, but ‘Thank you God that I know somebody still loves me.,” said Bowen.