MARGIE TRAX PAGE
ASHTABULA - -The windows at the Samaritan House show a view of Ashtabula common to residents and tourists.
But the view outside looking in tells another story.
Located at 4125 Station Ave., the five-bedroom, three-bathroom, 14-occupant Samaritan House is Ashtabula County's only year-round homeless shelter. The shelter's staff and volunteers hosted an open house Sunday afternoon to bring the community into the house that sheltered 200 homeless last year.
"A lot of people think homeless shelters are full all winter, but honestly our busiest months are July and August," director Steve Sargent said. "We are just getting ready for the rush."
The shelter offers residents a 30-day stay and provides food for three meals a day, though the residents do their own cooking.
As the staff prepares to provide shelter for men, women, children and families, they also celebrate the 38 new windows donated by area churches, organizations and individuals.
"We had to have new windows and this house has a lot of windows. The community came together to make this happen," Sargent said.
The $10,000 window replacement is a representation of ongoing community support, secretary-treasurer Anna Cartner said.
The house is owned by Messiah Lutheran Church, which leases the property for $1 a year to the Samaritan House.
Funded by state, federal and local grants, the shelter still gets a large portion of it's budget from local donations.
"Without the support of the community, we wouldn't exist. If we had only the grants, we would never make it," Cartner said.
" We need a lot of things to keep this household running," she said.
The shelter accepts donations of canned goods and non-perishable food items, juice, coffee and soda, frozen meat, cereal, soaps, toiletries, paper products, cleaning supplies, over-the-counter medications and first-aid supplies.
"If you need it in your household, we need it here," Cartner said.
For more information on Samaritan House or to donate, contact Sargent at (440) 992-3178. Monetary donations can be sent to P.O. Box 743, Ashtabula 44004.
