Recently, WeCare, a local organization, was contacted by a woman who needed shelter for the night. It was on a night that temperatures were expected to drop. The woman had said that she could not stay at her home because she had discovered drug-use within the household. She walked from Inverness to Brooksville. WeCare suggested she call Jericho Road Ministries.
Currently, Jericho Road is extremely short staffed and in need of volunteers. After several attempts, they did get in touch with the organization, but could not secure placement for the woman. With the graciousness of a local assisted living facility, WeCare was able to find a place for the woman to stay for the night.
The next day, WeCare was able to sort the situation out with Jericho Road. The organization was extremely apologetic for not being able to provide for the woman the first night. If the situation is to arise again, WeCare will be able to act as a liaison between the homeless person in need and the shelter.
In Hernando County the ‘go to’ shelter is Jericho Road. They have separate shelters for men and women. For emergencies, they provide shelter for a maximum of three nights per month. As this story illustrates, because they are short-staffed, they are difficult to get in touch with. If you are unable to get ahold of them directly, WeCare can now assist in contacting them. Call 352-585-8631 to speak with Sandra Know of We Care. To reach the Jericho Road Men’s Shelter call: 799 2912 ext.103; To reach the Jericho Road Women’s Shelter call: 799 2912 ext. 109
If you are interested in volunteering at Jericho Road you can visit their administrative office at 1163 Howell Ave, Brooksville, FL 34601. They are open from 9am-3pm where you can come by and fill out a volunteer application at anytime.
The Tampa Bay region has a system in place to provide phone assistance for those facing homelessness. Simply dial 2-1-1. An operator will assist the person or family in securing a bed for the night. They have a database of shelters and their current availabilities for Pinellas County. The system is free to use for those in need as well as the shelters. The shelters simply need to provide the required information to keep their records current. The 2-1-1 online database service in Hernando County is run through the United Way. You can access the emergency shelter listings by going to: http://211hernando.bowmansystems.com/
The Dawn Center will provide shelter for women and children seeking refuge from abuse. The shelter can be reached at 352-686-8759. They also have a hotline: 352-686-8430.
New Beginnings Youth Shelter (NBYS) is a Youth Crisis Center providing safe, temporary shelter for runaways and homeless youth until stable care can be assured. They provide individual and family counseling. 18377 Clinton Blvd. Brooksville, FL 34601 Call Family Services 352-797-6199.
There are several shelters in neighboring Citrus County, which could provide additional options for the individual in need of emergency housing.
The Refuge at Jumper Creek in Bushnell provides emergency and transitional housing with supportive services such as mentoring and life skills education for those experiencing homelessness or those who are at risk of homelessness. They are located at 4912 SE 7th Drive; Bushnell, FL 33513. They can be reached at (352) 568-8400. While most of their residents come from Sumter, Citrus and Hernando counties, they assist those from throughout Florida.
Mission in Citrus Homeless Shelters & Services located at 2488 North Pennsylvania Ave in Crystal River. They have five shelters total, two of which located in Crystal River are open 24 hours. Their phone number is 352-794-3825 Website: http://www.missionincitrus.com They have a Floral City location for disabled Veterans and/or women and children.
The Path is a shelter for men, women and children. The Path does not accept walk-ins or reserve beds. To find out about bed space availability & program guidelines you can reach them at 352-527-6500, ext. 1 They are located at 27 south Melbourne Street Beverly Hills, FL. Website: http://www.pathofcitrus.org/
The Sanctuary is located at 7463 W. Grover Cleveland Blvd. Homosassa, FL 34446. They are a Christian-based shelter for single men and women only. Must be ambulatory, without major health issues. Phone: (352) 621-3277 Fax: (352) 628-9450