Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter

The Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter of Davis is a community-based interfaith effort enabling member congregations to provide cold-weather shelter and hospitality on a rotating basis to persons who are homeless in the Davis community.

How the Program Works

• Congregations sign up for 1 or more week(s) and serve as host sites for rotating winter shelter.
• Maximum capacity per night is either 25 or 40 depending on the congregation host site (in case of fire).
• Trained volunteers at a separate Intake Center carefully screen guests (behavioral assessment)
• Guests who pass the screening are then transported to host congregations by shelter volunteer drivers.
• Congregations provide a warm welcome, supper, and a dry place to sleep
• Next morning: Guests do chores and shelter volunteer drivers transport Guests to either the Intake Center or Jack In The Box
• Number of Guests: 10-25 (possibly higher during extreme weather)
• The Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter provides client screening, overnight staff, training, transportation to and from congregations, insurance, and much more. We need congregations to partner with!

History

The Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter (IRWS) started as the Interfaith Homeless Task Force in 2005 in an attempt to address the challenges facing Davis's homeless during the cold and wet winter months. Over the years representatives from many organizations (see below) have worked with IRWS.

The shelter had been the subject of complains by neighbors and the issue went all the way to the City Council. It was resolved at the January 12^th 2010 meeting.

Participants

Congregations

• Congregation Bet Haverim
• Davis Christian Assembly
• Davis Community Church
• Davis Korean Church
• Davis Lutheran Church
• Davis United Methodist Church
• First Baptist Church
• Islamic Center of Davis
• Lutheran Church of the Incarnation
• St. James Catholic Church
• The Episcopal Church of St. Martin
• University Covenant Church
• Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis

Non-Profits and UC Davis Groups

• Davis Community Meals
• Grace in Action
• UC Davis Interfaith Campus Council
• Help and Education Leading to Prevention
• Homeless, American Indians, Gays & Lesbians, and Students (H.A.G.S.)

Social Service Agencies

• National Association for the Mentally Ill (N.A.M.I)
• Yolo County Elder & Disability Services
• Yolo County Mental Health

Media Coverage

• The California Aggie Hospitality During The Holidays 12-18-2008
• The Davis Voice Homeless are Sheltered Another Day 02-02-2010
• The California Aggie Rotating Shelter Keeps Homeless From Cold 01-13-2011
• The California Aggie Winter Shelters Open For Homeless 12-03-2012
• The Davis Enterprise Shelter Houses Family Environment 12-21-2012
• The Davis Enterprise As Temperatures Drop, Homeless Shelter Numbers Rise 12-29-2015