Life Hub Shelter Already Hosting Dozens Nightly

WHEELING - The new Life Hub homeless shelter has been averaging 20 to 38 people staying there nightly since it opened about a week ago, said City of Wheeling Homeless Liaison Melissa Adams.

She noted both men and women have been using the facility, but they have separate sleeping areas at night. Families do not stay there, but receive help from the Life Hub and other local agencies finding a hotel or another place to stay.

The Life Hub is located inside the former First English Lutheran Church, 35 16th St., Wheeling.

"It's been wonderful to have our own space," she said, adding people can stay out of the cold longer now that shelter is not sharing the space with another company.

For the last two years the shelter operated out of the ballroom at Catholic Charities, which offered the space after the shelter's previous location closed at the former OVMC building. Prior to that, Youth Services System ran it out of its headquarters at the old Hazel-Atlas building in East Wheeling.

Adams said the people are beginning to take ownership of the facility, helping clean and organize it, though the facility does have 20 staff members.

Adams anticipates that, as it gets colder, more people will stay each night. Some people now stay until lights out at 11 p.m. and then head back to their tents. Also, on Jan. 1, encampments will no longer be permitted in the city via an ordinance approved recently by City Council.

In the meantime, the shelter is also in need of various items. Currently tampons are in need for women; there are enough pads at the moment, she said.

"We can also use hats and winter coats and backpacks. Starting Jan. 1 with the new ban on camps, people will have to carry what they have at the camps. Backpacks are a huge necessity," she said, adding rolling suitcases can also be helpful.

Adams said donations can be dropped off at the Wheeling Housing Authority's main office between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The office is likely closed on Christmas Day. Monetary donations can be made on the Life Hub's website at https://lifehubwv.org/.

Adams said the Life Hub is planning to host a Christmas Eve service at 3 p.m. Sunday inside the building's sanctuary for the homeless clients. The public can attend as well, she said.

She noted her husband Jim Adams, a retired pastor, will give the sermon for the service, which is being sponsored by Kennen & Kennen Realtor. She noted their daughter will lead worship and Joyce Wolen, executive director of the Wheeling Housing Authority, will play the organ.

Adams said the homeless clients have already decorated a Christmas tree for the building. And they have been asking for a church service to be held there.

"I'd love to thank everyone for their support so far," she said. "We have been looking forward to it being successful and it's going really well."