Home Sweet Home shelter open to those in need

Posted on March 7, 2015

Home Sweet Home Ministries shelter can be found at 303 E. Oakland Ave. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – With the news Bloomington's Tent City is being cleared out, Home Sweet Home Ministries is making sure the public knows its shelter is there for those who need it.

As many as 14 of Bloomington's homeless were staying in Tent City, which is found behind the McDonald's on West Market Street. The owner of the property said this week he planned to have the area cleared out Saturday.

Home Sweet Home Director of Residential Services Jan Holmes said their shelter is offering emergency screening times for anyone seeking a place to stay.

"They sit down and meet with a case manager who makes sure that they meet the basic requirements to stay here," said Holmes. "Because we are a family shelter we're not able to serve sex offenders. We're not able to serve people who have a recent history of violent crimes."

Those wishing to stay at the shelter must also follow a few guidelines, such as abstaining from alcohol and other drugs.

"We deal with a number of people who have addiction issues and because, again, we're a shelter that serves families as well, we can't have intoxicated people staying on the grounds," she said.

Holmes added, for anyone struggling with addiction, Home Sweet Home does offer to help connect them with treatment centers.

The shelter is located at 303 E. Oakland Ave. Spokesman Matt Drat said they serve between 85 and 90 men, women, and children at any given time.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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