Norristown Hospitality Center

Wow, what an absolutely AMAZING lunch today at the Norristown Hospitality Center! 🤩 We were completely blown away by the generosity and talent of our friends from Cornerstone Fellowship Church!

They didn’t just bring food, they brought a FEAST! 🤤 We’re talking mouthwatering barbecue salmon, pork, AND chicken sandwiches, accompanied by delicious mashed potatoes, green beans, and a scrumptious dessert!

But that’s not all! They also filled the Center with the beautiful sounds of Christmas carols, thanks to their talented saxophone player, guitarist, and singers! 🎶🎄 Even our director, Sunanda, joined in. It was truly a festive and heartwarming atmosphere.

 

It was a fun (and very filling!) afternoon for everyone. A huge thank you to Cornerstone Fellowship Church for your incredible generosity and for making today so special!

 

#NorristownHospitalityCenter #CornerstoneFellowshipChurch #CommunityLove #ChristmasCheer #ThankYou #DeliciousFood #LiveMusic #FeelingFestive #Gratitude

When JT, a senior citizen and guest of the Norristown Hospitality Center, needed critical surgery on both of his eyes, he faced a significant obstacle: the surgery center required that a trusted individual escort him home after the procedure, something JT, who is experiencing homelessness, couldn’t readily provide. Determined to find a solution, JT turned to the Hospitality Center staff for assistance.

Recognizing the urgency of JT’s situation and the potential risks of relying on a ride-share service for post-operative care, the Center’s staff, particularly intern Matt Benjamin, stepped in to help. Matt diligently connected JT with several community partners to address his needs.

First, Matt worked with Oak Street Health to enroll JT in Medicare Part B, expanding his access to essential healthcare services. He then collaborated with Street Medicine, a local organization providing healthcare to individuals experiencing homelessness. Street Medicine not only arranged medical transportation to and from the surgery center but also secured a temporary stay at a motel for JT, ensuring he had a safe place to recover.

The Hospitality Center also played a crucial role in JT’s recovery, providing transportation to the motel and supplying him with food for the week. This collaborative effort ensured that JT received the necessary care and support throughout his recovery journey.

“We are thrilled that JT had a successful surgery and has fully recovered,” said Mike Kingsley, caseworker at the Norristown Hospitality Center. “This situation highlights the complex challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness when accessing healthcare. We are proud of our staff, especially Matt Benjamin, for his dedication to removing barriers and advocating for JT’s well-being.”

JT’s story is a testament to the power of community partnerships and the impact of dedicated individuals who go the extra mile to help those in need. The collaborative efforts of the Hospitality Center, Oak Street Health, and Street Medicine ensured that JT received the critical care he needed, ultimately improving his quality of life.

Christmas morning will be a little brighter for those experiencing homelessness in Norristown thanks to our wonderful staff, volunteers, and donors. On December 25th, the Center will open its doors to serve a hot, balanced breakfast prepared by their talented cook, Eric Davenport.

“Holidays can be a particularly difficult time for people facing homelessness,” says Amalthea Leland, Peer Specialist at the Norristown Hospitality Center. “Many places are closed, and feelings of isolation and loneliness can be amplified. We want to provide a warm and welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and cared for on Christmas Day.”

In addition to a delicious breakfast, each guest will receive a special gift prepared by the Delta Kappa Gamma Society – Beta Pi Chapter. For the past 12 years, this dedicated group has been generously collecting and assembling gifts for those the Center serves. Each thoughtfully prepared drawstring backpack will contain snacks, hand warmers, a winter hat, socks, gloves, a scarf, and tissues – essential items to help individuals stay warm and comfortable during the cold winter months.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Delta Kappa Gamma Society for their continued support and for making the holidays a little brighter for our guests,” says Matt Kirsch, Development Coordinator. “Their kindness and generosity truly embody the spirit of Christmas.”

The Norristown Hospitality Center’s Christmas breakfast and gift distribution is a testament to the community’s commitment to caring for its most vulnerable members. By providing a warm meal, essential items, and a sense of belonging, the Center is ensuring that everyone can experience the joy of the holiday season.

I am truly grateful for the outpouring of love and support for the Hospitality Center during this critical time of year. Many of you have generously contributed, ensuring that our guests are adequately prepared for the cold weather. Your support means so much to us.

As the crisp autumn air begins to settle over Norristown, the need for the Norristown Hospitality Center’s Code Blue Emergency Cold Weather Shelter becomes increasingly urgent. Temperatures are set to plummet, and the threat of severe cold weather looms. For individuals experiencing homelessness, these conditions can be life-threatening.

The Code Blue Shelter serves as a lifeline, providing temporary shelter, warm meals, and essential services to those in need. When the air temperature or windchill drops to 32 degrees or lower, the shelter opens its doors at St. John’s Church (520 Church Street in Norristown), offering a safe and welcoming environment. Volunteers and staff work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of guests, providing a sense of security and comfort during the harsh winter months.

The shelter’s services are vital for preventing hypothermia and other health complications associated with exposure to extreme cold. By offering a warm place to sleep and essential necessities, the Code Blue Shelter helps to protect vulnerable individuals from the dangers of the elements and provides a pathway to stability and hope.

As the Norristown Hospitality Center prepares for the upcoming Code Blue season, we urgently need dedicated volunteers to join our team. The shelter’s success relies heavily on the generosity and compassion of our volunteers, who provide essential support to our guests.

Responsibilities:

• Check-in and Check-out: Greet guests upon arrival, verify their identity, and assist with the check-in process. Assist guests with check-out procedures at the end of their stay.
• Overnight Supervision: Provide overnight supervision and monitoring of the shelter environment to ensure the safety and well-being of all guests.
• Meal Service: Assist with meal preparation, serving, and cleanup.
• Guest Support: Offer emotional support, guidance, and resources to guests. Help connect guests with available services and resources, such as social services, healthcare, and job training provided during daytime hours at the Hospitality Center.
• Facility Upkeep: Assist with general upkeep of the shelter, including cleaning and organizing common areas.

Qualifications:

• Compassion and empathy: A genuine concern for the well-being of individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Reliability and punctuality: Ability to commit to regular volunteer shifts.
• Positive attitude: A willingness to work in a fast-paced and often challenging environment.
• Effective communication skills: Ability to interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Basic first aid and CPR training: Preferred, but not required.

Benefits:

• Fulfilling work: The opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals in need.
• Valuable experience: Gain experience working with vulnerable populations and develop valuable skills.
• Community involvement: Be part of a supportive community that is committed to helping those experiencing homelessness.

Other Notes:

• All volunteers receive training and support.
• All volunteers will work along side a staff member. There are are least 2 staff members/volunteers assigned to each shift.
• The shelter only operates on nights when the county declares a Code Blue Emergency.
• The shelter may run any day of the week.

Shifts:

• Shift 1:Setup and Check-in – 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Shift 2: Shelter monitor – 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM
• Shift 3: Shelter Monitor – 1:00 AM – 7:00 AM
• Shift 4: Cleanup and Breakdown – 5:30 AM – 7:00 AM

If you are interested in getting more information about volunteering at the Norristown Hospitality Center’s Code Blue Shelter, please contact:

Matt Kirsch.

[email protected]

610-277-1322.

Many of you Norristown Hospitality Center newsletter followers may remember me as Majuel Armstead. I began writing about my of journey of homelessness in Norristown, PA last year. After a spending sometime away from the drawing board, I was trying to think of a topic for this story. It came to me, after five years of living in Norristown and going from being homeless for 13 months, to finding a place to live, I became a completely different person because of my experience. And rightly so, anyone would be after the journey I survived. But not just the environmental experience of being homeless, but being exposed to the people who shared the same fate as myself. And most importantly, experiencing the continuous generosity and kindness of the souls who reached out to help me with personal resources, social services and spiritual enrichment voluntarily.

Before this event, I was living my life just like normal folk, living at home with family, working, catching the bus, going to church, socializing with friends, just living life. Never thinking about others who didn’t have a place to live or anyone to care about them. My tunnel vision told me everyone around me possessed all the comforts of home, until the unfortunate event of homelessness befell me. When I arrived at the women’s shelter in Norristown, I saw other women who shared the same fate as I. Each of us were from different cultures and backgrounds but shared the same story of homelessness. Yet there was a strength and drive within us that surged us forward in spite of our dilemmas. I was determined to look past my present state because I was taught to make the best every situation, knowing this was not going to be my future. I was going to do everything humanly possible to change this predicament. I thought this moment was just a stepping stone in time for me!

Each day my mind was constantly racing to find the answers to improve my situation. As soon as the library opened, I was there researching on the computer to find another housing option. I was also aware how patient and kind the social worker and Norristown Hospitality Center associates were with each passing day. No matter how extreme the clients conditions were, the associates remained calm to listen to their issues. I was taking that in and learning everyday from that. Their patience and kindness had a lasting effect on me…except I didn’t realize it then.

I continued to focus on myself and going to treatment to heal and purge the anxiety and stress I was struggling with. Going to the NHC helped but I knew the true answers to my healing and wellness lied within myself. So I began a regimen of weekly walking 9 miles per week. I walked from my home to Tae Kwon Do practice three days per week. It was so freeing. I lost 50 pounds. I felt so empowered knowing I decreased 4 dress sizes and the movement changed my attitude. I no longer thought about the past or being angry about

those who caused the event of homelessness in my life. So everyday I turned my attention on keeping busy. I realized that through helping other people I was helping myself. Helping to better my life. I enjoyed giving others information about programs that would improve their quality of life. It felt rewarding to me when they’d return to me and say, Miss Juel thank you so much for telling me to sign up for that program! It really helped me! And the joy I felt when I heard those words were really heartfelt.

I am going to continue to contribute to my community helping all those in need me because people need people! Now I understand why the leaders at The Norristown Hospitality Center work daily and tirelessly to help us and make us smile!

Statement from the Norristown Hospitality Center Regarding the Johnson vs. Grants Pass Supreme Court Ruling

The Norristown Hospitality Center is deeply saddened by the recent Supreme Court decision in Johnson vs. Grants Pass. This ruling effectively criminalizes homelessness, further marginalizing a vulnerable population already struggling to survive.

At the Norristown Hospitality Center, we see the devastating impact of homelessness every day. People experiencing homelessness face a multitude of challenges, including lack of access to shelter, food, and healthcare. The Johnson vs. Grants Pass decision only exacerbates these problems by making it even more difficult for people to find safe places to sleep.

We urge our community leaders and residents of Norristown to stand with us in opposing this decision. We need to work together to create solutions that address the root causes of homelessness, such as lack of affordable housing, mental health care, and addiction treatment services, not criminalize those who are struggling.

Together, let us work to build a more just and compassionate community for all.

Sincerely,
The Norristown Hospitality Center

#EndHomelessness #HousingForAll #HumanRights #DignityNotCriminalization

We’re excited to share the positive progress of Anthony, a guest at our center since May 2017.

Anthony is a regular guest at the Hospitality Center. Anthony is outgoing, helpful, joyful, and friendly. He often helps with tasks around the Center like taking out the trash when it is full or helping to move folding tables.

After facing challenges with homelessness, mental health, addiction, and incarceration, Anthony is now committed to making positive changes in his life. He was released from Montgomery County Correctional Facility in April 2024 and has 6 months of probation remaining. He is committed to making changes to break the cycle of homelessness and addiction.

Taking Charge of His Goals:

• Goal Setting: Anthony has been working with Amalthea Leland, a Certified Peer Specialist at the Hospitality Center. Together they set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to achieve stability and well-being.
• Amalthea and Anthony then set up Action Steps:
• Birth certificate and Social Security card replacement initiated.
• Medical card and initial state ID obtained.
• Mental health services intake underway.
• Regular probation meetings and benefit reinstatement process started.
• Upcoming meetings with Critical Time Intervention (CTI) to explore additional support.
• Just yesterday, he opened a bank account with is newly issued identification!

Anthony continues to meet with Amalthea for frequent check-ins. When Anthony, who also receives his mail at the Center, received his state identification by mail, he exuded joy! He was so excited that another ‘action step’ was achieved.

Looking Ahead:

We are proud of Anthony’s determination and look forward to supporting him on his journey to a brighter future.